The Free Yazidi Women’s Movement (TAJÊ) held a conference in Shengal under the motto “Towards Women’s Revolution with Jin, Jiyan, Azadi”.

350 delegates and a number of Yazidi and Arab women attended the conference. While HDP MP Feleknas Uca greeted the participants via video conference, Ronahi Elman, member of a feminist organization in Europe, expressed her happiness over participating in the conference.

The spokesperson of the ‘Freedom for Leader Öcalan Initiative in Lebanon’,  Mihemiya Sosin Şaman sent a video message to the conference and expressed her support for the freedom struggle of Yazidi women.

In a message to the conference, civil society activist Bilur Elcerrah expressed her belief in the victory of Yazidi women.

Çiçek Yıldız from the Yazidi Coordination in Europe greeted the participants in the name of the Yazidis in Europe.

A written statement by the Shengal Women’s Units (YJŞ) said: “Leader Öcalan’s ideas constitute an indispendible reality for society, women, youth, politics, culture, morality, economy, education and self-defense. As the defense forces of Shengal, we cannot ignore these ideas as we live in a territory where Öcalan’s ideas were born. His ideas on self-defense have become our road map, philosophy and mentality. YJŞ and YBŞ (Shengal Resistance Units) were founded on this basis. As long as the enemies of these lands exist, self-defense will remain our most legitimate right.”

According to RojNews, the Iraqi government did not allow dozens of guests from outside of Shengal to enter the city. Those denied access into Shengal include Manama Pir, co-chair of the association of Yazidis in Russia.

Manama Pir attended the conference online and condemned the obstruction of the Iraqi government. Pointing to the resistance of Yazidi women, Pir vowed that Yazidi women will never bow to repression and will certainly achieve victory.

Another guest denied access to Shengal is Suat Hiso, a member of the Union of Syrian Yazidis. Hiso said that the obstruction by the Baghdad government proves the spread of policies against the will and unity of the Yazidi community.

“Through struggle and resistance, we will defend the achievements of the Autonomous Administration of Shengal,” she said.