Sabiha Sebrî, spokeswoman of the Yazidi Women's Freedom Movement (TAJÊ), spoke to ANF about the isolation imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on the 23rd anniversary of the international plot that led to his abduction from Kenya to Turkey in 1999 since when he has been held in aggravated isolation in the Imrali Island Prison.

Sebri first commemorated the freedom fighters who were martyred while fighting against ISIS. The spokeswoman stated that the people of Shengal (Sinjar) did not meet Öcalan in person, but they had the chance to get to know his ideas after the ISIS genocide in 2014. Sebrî recalled that there had been many armed forces in Shengal when ISIS attacked, stating the following,

“There were nearly 2,000 Peshmerga including Iraqi military forces, but they did not defend us against ISIS. Moreover, they left the Yazidi people to the mercy of ISIS. The Yazidi people will never forget those days. Thousands of women and children lost their lives.

The arrival of freedom guerrillas in Shengal following the ISIS onslaught boosted our morale. Because back then we had no hope left. When ISIS attacked, many states, especially local forces, turned a blind eye to the attacks. It was the Turkish state that provided the most assistance to ISIS. Their aim was to destroy the Yazidi community. Although the number of the freedom guerrillas was few, they put up outstanding resistance in Shengal and gave us hope. They sacrificed their lives for the Yazidi community. We will never forget what the freedom guerrillas inspired by the philosophy of Öcalan did for us.”

YAZIDI SOCIETY ROSE UP WITH ÖCALAN'S PHILOSOPHY

Sebrî said that the people of Shengal started to organize and establish their own institutions after the defeat of the ISIS. “We became familiar with the thoughts and philosophy of Öcalan at that time. His philosophy is not only for the Kurdish people, but for all peoples. We have never met him in person, but the Yazidi women's commitment to him is very deep. Ordinary women who were stuck in their homes discovered their essence after the genocide. They stood up and recognized themselves with the philosophy of Öcalan. What is the meaning of our existence as women? Why do we live? We've started to question our existence as women.

Öcalan says that if we want to liberate a society, women must be liberated first. We see this happening in Shengal. Women suffered the most during the last mass slaughter. They were murdered, raped, sold in markets, and their children died of hunger and thirst. Therefore, we started resistance and built a new life based on Öcalan's philosophy. In 2-3 years, the Yazidi women took up arms and started to protect their land, adopting self-defence. Young Yazidi women sold by ISIS in slave markets took up arms and fought against ISIS.

Undoubtedly, this was a great success for the Yazidi women. They have been reborn thanks to Öcalan and his fighters. As the Yazidi community, we owe it to Öcalan and the freedom guerrillas who came to protect us during the mass slaughter. The PKK not only saved the Yazidi people from ISIS, but also protected the honour of the Iraqi state. The freedom guerrillas protected humanity against ISIS.”

GUERILLAS FIGHTING ISIS ARE MURDERED WITH CHEMICAL WEAPONS

The TAJÊ spokeswoman pointed to the increasingly ongoing against the PKK guerrillas who saved the Yazidi people from ISIS. “After we got to know Öcalan's philosophy and started to fight accordingly, attacks on Shengal increased even more. His family and lawyers were not allowed to meet Öcalan, especially after 2014. The attacks on Shengal and the isolation of Öcalan in prison are interconnected. Öcalan's thoughts have come to life in Shengal. Now, the Yazidi people have organized themselves based on the philosophy and thought of Öcalan.

Currently, all kinds of attacks, including chemical attacks, are carried out against the guerrillas who saved the Yazidi people from ISIS and defended humanity. However, states and non-governmental organizations that promote human rights have remained silent. This silence means approving the attacks. The Yazidi people condemn the attacks against guerrilla forces. Some of the guerrillas who fought ISIS were killed with chemical weapons. Those guerrillas who were killed are our people, we regard them as the children of Shengal.”

ATTACKS ON PKK INCREASE AS ÖCALAN’S IDEAS SPREAD

Sebrî remarked that the Iraqi state has recently attacked the demonstrations they organized for Öcalan. “When we organize an event for Öcalan in Shengal, the Iraqi state intervenes. There is also a political war against the Yazidi community. When Öcalan's fighters came to Shengal, there was nobody from the other forces. Only the guerrilla forces fought against ISIS. They also protected the Iraqi state’s honour. For this very reason, Iraq should remember this and stand against the attacks.

As Öcalan's ideas spread, the attacks against the PKK increase. The PKK fighters are the children of this people. Everyone should put their hand on their heart and embrace the PKK and Öcalan. Embracing Öcalan is tantamount to embracing humanity. Öcalan is resisting not only for the Kurds but for all peoples. His years-long imprisonment on İmralı is not an ordinary case. Nobody should accept this situation.

The Yazidi people must never forget the year 2014 and embrace the philosophy of Öcalan. When Öcalan attains his physical freedom, the ongoing wars in the Middle East will also come to an end. Therefore, everyone should support the campaign for the physical freedom of Öcalan.”