Shengal (Sinjar)- A mass march was organized in Shengal by the Democratic Autonomous Council for Shengal to protest the agreement signed by the Turkish state, the Al-Kadhimi government, and the KDP on October 9, also known as “the 9 October Agreement”, the ongoing attacks on Shengal.

Many people of Shengal and the members of the Yazidi Free Women's Movement (TAJÊ), NGOs, and political parties shouted slogans during the march. After the march, the Democratic Autonomous Council for Shengal member Xelef Şengalî released a statement condemning the attacks on their security forces. In the statement, she said, “As the Yazidi community, we reject the agreement signed by the KDP and the Al-Kadhimi government on October 9, 2020, an attempt to turn Shengal into its defenseless state before 2014. This agreement is against the rights of Yazidis and against all Yazidi forces that oppose genocide. The recent attacks ordered by Kadhimi are intended to depopulate Şengal. Turkey and the international powers want to make Shengal the center of the conflicts. We call on everyone to take a stand against the attacks.”

The statement includes six demands of the Yazidi community:

·         We demand the dissolution of the agreement.

·         The EU should take action to stop the rights violations being committed against the Yazidi community.

·         The Iraqi government should officially recognize the Êzidxan forces.

·         A commission should be formed to prosecute those who didn’t fulfill their responsibilities and left the people alone during the genocidal attacks of ISIS.

·         The delegation recently visited Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (Prime Minister of Iraq) doesn’t represent the people of Shengal. The visit was organized by the KDP and Nineveh Operations Command.

·         We call on Babê Şêx not to support any political party and force and to show the same closeness to all Yazidis.

“We stand by our children”

One of the TAJÊ members, Emşê Kurkurka told NuJINHA that they marched to protect their rights and existence. “They aim to destroy our existence and security forces by carrying out a dirty plan. All Yazidis should rise up to protect our security forces defending us. We take actions to show that we stand by our children,” she added.