EVÎN ZENDA

Shengal (Sinjar)- When ISIS committed the genocide against the Yazidi community in Shengal, the guerrillas saved Yazidi people from atrocity of ISIS. Yazidi women formed their defense forces to protect their people after the liberation of Shengal. Since then many Yazidi families have been returning to their homeland. The citizens of the Siba Sheikh Khidir did not bow to the attacks of ISIS and protected their village at risk of their lives. After eight years, the citizens, who left the village, have begun to return to their village.

“We should rebuild our lives again”

Gulê Elî, mother of YBŞ member Ferhat, who lost his life while protecting his village, returned to Shengal in 2017. Since the village was under the control of ISIS at that time, she stayed in Xanesor for a while. “We must give life to our soil, where our children's blood was spilled. For this reason, I returned to the village, where I grew up,” she told NuJINHA. Indicating that she has spent her life in the Siba Sheikh Khidir, she spoke about the days in the village before ISIS attacked it. “Our village was a beautiful village. However, it was razed to the ground during the genocide. But we will give life to our village, where we grew up. Our children waged a great battle against ISIS in Siba. We should rebuild our lives in the village.”

“Iraqi government must fulfill its responsibilities”

Indicating that their houses were plundered by ISIS, Gulê Elî said, “Yes, we returned to our village but we face many difficulties. Because our houses were plundered by ISIS during the genocide. Now, only the Peoples’ Assembly helps us. The Iraqi government must support the people; however, it does not. On the contrary, we get into debt to buy doors and windows. Some families cannot afford to buy doors and windows because they have nothing. The Iraqi government must fulfill its responsibilities.”

“People should return to their homeland”

Underlining that they will overcome all difficulties, Gulê Elî said, “We will protect our homeland and nature despite all the difficulties. Our people should return to their homeland to rebuild it. The people living in the IDPs camps in Başure Kurdistan should return to their homeland. In IDPs camps, they are killed and their tents are burned down. The KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) does its best to prevent people from returning to their homeland. But our land is sacred so everyone should return.”