Shengal Êzidî Women’s Assembly issued a written statement on the second anniversary of the femicide and genocide committed by the ISIS gangs against the Êzidî people in Shengal on August 3, 2014.

The statement includes the following:

“On August 3, 2014, ISIS attacked and invaded Shengal, the historic homeland of the Kurdish religious minority Êzidîs, whose religion is based on Zoroastrianism. They tore down Êzidî places of worship, executed those who resisted, and forced a pledge of alliance or death on the local people. Close to 5000 Êzidîs were murdered during the ISIS genocide, and around 200.000 people managed to escape. The 50.000 Êzidîs who managed to flee to Shengal mountains were trapped without food, water or any medical attention. In this process, around 5 thousand Êzidî women and children were held captive. They were kept as spoils of war, sold as sex slaves, or given to ISIS commanders. Those who refused to change their religion were tortured, raped and ultimately murdered. The babies born in prisons where the mothers were kept were forcibly taken away and condemned to a fate unknown. The women raped by ISIS fighters jumped to their deaths from the Mount Shengal. Although many managed to escape or were saved, there are still 3 thousand women in the hands of ISIS.”

“NEED FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ACTION”

The statement emphasizing ISIS femicide continues as:

“The practices like the kidnapping of Êzidî women as spoils of war, their enslavement, the systematic rape, and forced religion change are not only part of a systematic war on women, but surface as a femicide.

The Êzidî people, Shengali women foremost, answered ISIS’ genocide and femicide with self-rule and self defense. Today, the Mount Shengal is the center of Êzidî self governance with people’s and women’s assemblies and self defense units. But the ISIS threat on the Êzidî peple still continues in Shengal and countless women are still in the hands of ISIS. There is a need for national and international action and solidarity for their liberation.”

The statement underlines that, as stated in the UN Special Commission on June 16, 2016, the events in Shengal constitute a genocide and a crime against humanity, and continues:

“We will continue our struggle until the perpetrators face justice and pay for their crimes. On the second anniversary of the ISIS campaign against Êzidî people in Shengal, we call for the declaration of August 3, 2016 as the “International Day of Action Against Femicide and Genocide”. On this day, members of the Kurdish women’s movement will hold vigils and protests in Kurdistan and Europe. We call on you too to join us and raise the voice of Êzidî women seeking freedom.”

SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS

SOUTHERN KURDISTAN

Kurdish Women’s Relations Center (REPAK)

Kurdistan Free Women’s Movement (RJAK)

Rassan Women’s Rights Defense Organisation

Social Development Organisation

Sazan Women’s and Human Rights Meeting Organisation

Saya Organisation Against Violence Against Women and Discrimination

Working Institute for the Development of Democracy

Kurdistan Women’s Alliance

Kurdistan Women’s Union

Zhindrusty Better Health Services for Women Organisation

ROJAVA 

Kongra Star

Free Women’s Foundation

Women’s Directorate

Sara Association Against Violence Against Women

Democratic Unity Party (PYD) Women’s Branch

Syrian Kurdish Left Party Women’s Branch

Syrian Kurdish Democratic Left Party Women’s Branch

Kurdistan Communist Party Women’s Branch

Kurdistan Liberal Union Women’s Branch

Kurdistan National Community Party Women’s Branch

Syrian Kurdistan Democratic Party Women’s Branch

Kurdistan Green Party Women’s Branch

Kurdistan Party for Change Women’s Branch

Free National Party Women’s Branch

NORTHERN KURDISTAN

Action Platform Against the Forcibly Detained Women

Free Women’s Congress (KJA)

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Women’s Assembly

Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Women’s Assembly

Selis Women’s Association

Ceren Women’s Association

Rainbow Women’s Association

EASTERN KURDISTAN

Eastern Kurdistan Free Women Society (KJAR)

EUROPE

International Kurdish Women’s Movement Representation

Socialist Women’s Union (SKB)

European Kurdish Women’s Movement (TJKE)

Femmes Solidaires

Germany Ezidi Women Assemblies Umbrella Organisation

Ezidi Youth Union

Ezidi Center for Associations

Ceni Kurdish Women’s Peace Bureau

Hêvî Education and Adaptation Association

Ezidi Kevnas Association

Kahniya Sipî Association

Kurdistan Students Union (YXK)

Kurdistan Student Women Union (JXK)

Bielefeld Kurdish Peace House

Democratic Alevi Federation (FEDA)

Bielefeld Democratic Union

TURKEY

Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) Women’s Assembly

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Women’s Assembly

Socialist Women’s Assemblies (SKM)

Women’s Freedom Assembly (KÖM)

Foundation for Solidarity with Women (KADAV)

CYPRUS

Refugee Rights Association (MHD)

Feminist Workshop (FEMA)

Free Women’s Academy (ÖKA)