On the tenth anniversary of the Islamic State attack on Shengal in North Iraq, the genocide of the Yazidi community will also be remembered in Europe on 3 August.

The Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe (TJK-E) and the umbrella organization of Yazidi Women's Councils in Germany (SMJÊ) are organizing their activities with the slogan "Against femicides - be the voice of self-defense," thus building on a campaign initiated on 8 March by the Yazidi women's liberation movement TAJÊ (Tevgera Azadiya Jinên Êzidî).

Shengal massacre must be recognized as genocide

The campaign demands that the massacre committed by ISIS in Shengal ten years ago be officially classified as genocide at all levels and prosecuted accordingly, as well as that femicide be recognized as a war crime and that all perpetrators and supporters be convicted. In addition, the campaign demands that the self-administration and security forces established in Shengal after 2014 be recognized as legitimate representatives and self-defense forces, and that all attacks on the Yazidi community be stopped, especially drone attacks carried out by the Turkish state. The campaign also advocates social and institutional acceptance of women's right to organized self-defense.

Take to the streets on 3 August

TJK-E and SMJÊ said in a call for participation in the activities announced in Europe for Saturday 3 August: "As women's organizations in Europe, we will take to the streets once again on 3 August to protest against the genocide of the Yazidi people that began in 2014 with the ISIS attack on Shengal. The extermination campaign at that time was a continuation of the policy known from the past of oppressing, raping and enslaving the Yazidis and depriving them of their identity. We condemn this massacre a thousand times over."

Fight against genocide and femicides

The massacre was particularly cruel for women, as the call said, adding: "Thousands of Yazidi women and children were abducted, sold in slave markets and raped. To date, only 1,207 out of 3,548 women have been freed from captivity. It is not known whether the missing women are still alive. Their families are not giving up the fight and hope to see them again.

On the tenth anniversary of these atrocities, we will defend the right of the Yazidis and other oppressed communities to justice, equality and freedom."

Calendar of actions

The TJK-E and SMJÊ are calling for participation in actions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, England and the Netherlands. A rally will take place in Bremen today, 2 August, at 3 p.m. on the market square.

Saturday 3 August

Germany

Saarbrücken: 5 p.m., Europa Galerie

Frankfurt am Main: 1 p.m., Rathenauplatz

Leipzig: 3 p.m., Augustusplatz

Stuttgart: 2 p.m., Königstr. / corner of Marstallstr.

Düsseldorf: 3 p.m., Platz des Landtages 1

Berlin: 6 p.m., Bebelplatz / Unter der Linden

Hannover: 12 p.m., Steintor

Göttingen: 12 p.m., Gänseliesel

Kiel: Info tent, 3-5 p.m., Europaplatz

Munich: 3 p.m., Sendlinger Str. 8

Austria

Vienna: 6.30 p.m., Parliament

Switzerland

Zurich: 4.30 p.m., Helvetiaplatz

Lausanne: 1 p.m., Église Saint-Laurent