The ISIS onslaught on Shengal on 3 August 2014, when they committed a massacre against everyone, old and young alike, went down in history as the 73rd genocide against Êzidîs who have been subjected to policies of annihilation throughout history. More than 10 thousand Êzidî children and women in Shengal were taken captive during the onslaught and following occupation by ISIS, and they were sold in the markets of Mosul.

In the wake of the occupation, while thousands of Êzidîs tried to hold on to life in refugee camps, Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) and guerrillas of HPG (People’s Defense Forces) and YJA-STAR (Free Women’s Troops) liberated villages one by one before they entered Shengal town centre and cleansed it of ISIS on 13 November 2015. Following the liberation of the town, most of the displaced Êzidîs that had to leave their home due to the barbarity of ISIS gangs, turned back to the sacred lands.

Thousands of young people from Shengal are now fighting in the ranks of Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) and Shengal Women’s Units (YJŞ) to protect their lands. Dilsoz Welat is one of the thousands of women in YJŞ ranks. YJŞ fighter Dilsoz Welat had to leave her home together with her family during 2014’s onslaught, and moved to Southern Kurdistan. The family turned back home after Shengal’s liberation and Dilsoz Welat joined YJŞ ranks. She is now defending her land against attacks.

Dilsoz Welat told the following about her participation in the YJŞ ranks; “I thought I needed to avenge the Êzidî women. Resistance must be enhanced to avenge the Êzidî women. As a young Êzidî woman, I joined the YJŞ ranks from Bashur (Southern Kurdistan) where we had moved after the genocide against our community. The training of YJŞ fighters attracted me very much as I watched them on TV. I thus decided to join the ranks, take up arms and avenge Êzidî women.”

Stressing that struggle must be enhanced for the freedom of Êzidî women, Dilsoz Welat told that; “As an Êzidî woman, I joined the ranks with my free will, and with great morale and enthusiasm. As women who are advancing on the path of awareness, we do no more bow to sovereign mindsets. We will not grant our defense to anyone else anymore. I joined the YJŞ with great dreams and I will continue my struggle till the very end.”

Dilsoz Welat continued; “Like all my comrades, I chose the righteous path of honor. This is the path of freedom and truth. We need to take revenge and build free Shengal. I will resist to the last drop of blood for a free and autonomous Shengal, and I will avenge all the women in captivity. This is my greatest purpose.”