Zahra Shingal

News Center – Shingal (Sinjar) has always been a historically important region for international and regional powers from a geographical perspective. Numerous civilizations have settled there throughout various eras. It is a small area, yet of great strategic importance, distinguished by many political, social, cultural, and commercial characteristics.

When discussing the Mosul problem, which dates back a century, it cannot be addressed without mentioning Shingal. The Mosul problem was a complex knot that unraveled, and it has now become a subject of intense debate among the poles of this era.

The powers that caused war, conflict, bloodshed, and cultural, linguistic, religious, and social animosity are the very ones now sitting at the negotiating table, but with new methods. From that date until today, the Shingal problem has remained on the agenda, as if its essence is linked to Mosul.

The question raised is whether these disputed areas will remain as they are within the framework of the new Middle East plan, or is this matter also under discussion? With the inclusion of Shingal, the situation here is being reformulated, and it seems there is a need for a new approach. However, the problem of unstable regions, such as Mosul and Kirkuk, will continue to cause many problems in the area. Although these problems have subsided for a while, due to not being fully resolved, they will re-emerge whenever the opportunity allows.

Iran and Turkey Continue the Same Cycle of Conflicts

In 2014, the ISIS organization was pushed into the Yazidi community by order of international and regional powers, exploiting the vacuum that emerged. Leader Abdullah Öcalan says, "History is hidden in our time." If the current situation in Shingal is viewed and understood only through daily routine, the path will be wrong.

The conflict over Mosul and Kirkuk escalated with the completion of the Lausanne Agreement, becoming one of the most dangerous wars today. These conflicts have led to the collapse of regimes that came to power and suppressed peoples, one after another.

This crisis began in Iraq and Afghanistan, and extended to Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria. Until now, in Iran, the possibility of its continuation remains. As I begin writing this article, urgent news arrives about the war between Israel and Iran. The coming days will clarify what this war and aggression will lead to. However, the conflict between Iran and Turkey represents a continuation of the same cycle of conflicts.

The change in the nature of conflicts between state and society, from positive conflicts to negative ones, has opened new horizons, if the human perspective grants more time to the ongoing political, diplomatic, and military developments in the region, enabling the people to confront threats more strongly. Some conflicts in the region, which are not based on consensus, arose in ancient times and continue today in a complex manner.

In reality, if conflicts are positive, they lead to profound consequences; if they are negative, they bring nothing but war, plunder, genocide, killing, and occupation. Although positive conflicts have always paved the way for humanity's development in the history of this region, today they have fallen into the hands of state powers as a poisoned weapon. The vast chasm between society and the state, comparable to the distance between earth and sky, is a result of the change in the nature of the positive-negative conflict.

In the daily life of society, this conflict has become entrenched in this reality to the extent that as soon as it is touched, it inflates like a snowball. This has also manifested as a result of using arguments such as religiosity, sexism, nationalism, and scientism.

"Society's Memory is Latent in the Life of the Yazidis"

The Yazidi community is one of the most affected by this conflict. The negative conflict between sects has intensified, fueling mutual animosity and killing. Today, the community pays a heavy price for this conflict. The sects that thought themselves liberated by submitting to the state are now paying the dearest price.

But the communities that defended themselves in this way have suffered severely, sometimes against the state, and other times against the communities that gained their freedom thanks to them. The Yazidi community is one of those that describes its suffering in this way. When we contemplate the impact of this reality on societies upon which this consciousness was forcibly imposed, we cannot speak of a mentality that has not been intimidated, nor can we speak of a sense of belonging and collective solidarity without discrimination between communities.

The memory of any society is latent in its life. The more strongly this memory is protected, the wider its horizons become. But sometimes, contrary to that, this memory becomes a reason for society to abandon itself, turning into a focal point for the most severe wounds and suffering from various dangers. Although this is a painful truth, the Yazidi community suffered from this situation during the 2014 genocide.

The situation is becoming more complex day by day. World War III entered a new phase with the advent of 2026, and this has been clearly evident in Syria, especially after the attacks on Rojava and Northeast Syria, where the Shingal region was the primary target of the threat. Everyone expected that these attacks carried out by jihadist groups would extend into Iraqi territory, and this threat still exists by all measures.

Although the Turkish state has delivered many blows, the current situation in Iraq is deeper and broader. These threats, which indicate the existence of new plots, were not launched by chance. However, the Yazidi community has mobilized in all its aspects in response to these attacks and threats. These statements and threats are accompanied by movements on the ground that confirm their validity, and there are parties seeking to exploit this complex situation.

These recent attacks were not the cause of the unrest in Iraq. Iraq has long suffered from serious internal and external political and security conflicts, and from political stagnation. The situation has now reached a dead end. Either this situation pushes Iraq into further stagnation, or Iraqi parties and officials take the initiative to address this situation immediately to prevent the exacerbation of the current unrest and deadlock. Are there forces and parties on the Iraqi political scene capable of doing so? This is also a point of discussion.

"Attempts to Annihilate Shingal and Marginalize It in Confrontation with Security Forces Were Implemented"

What is happening in Shingal now? And why have the reasons that paved the way for the threat of launching new attacks on Shingal re-emerged?

I say "re-emerged" because it is not a recent phenomenon. The conflict between Shingal and Iraq did not arise suddenly. This problem has continued since the genocide, that is, since 2014, and remains today. Its second phase officially began with the agreement signed on October 9, 2020, between Baghdad, Hewlêr (Erbil), and Ankara. Additionally, these disputes often escalate into conflicts. However, these disputes have not been resolved definitively, nor have they always been in a state of conflict.

Although the Turkish state openly threatens Shingal at every opportunity, the Iraqi state shares this tendency. Particularly, intensive efforts are being made against the Self-Defense Forces in Ezidkhan, based on the principle of annihilation, marginalization, or complete removal. Why the focus specifically on the Self-Defense Forces? This is cause for concern! Because all countries in the region exercise their repression on communities through this mechanism. Undoubtedly, this stems from a deep-seated consciousness and mentality.

The most important and interesting aspect is the Yazidi community's stance towards the threats. This is the truth everyone should pay attention to. The Yazidi community has suffered a serious political and security crisis for 11 years, and Yazidi women in particular have emerged as a leading force in developing these two characteristics. Yazidi women have laid the foundations for a strong culture of resistance against the executioners of this era, whom Leader Abdullah Öcalan describes in his statement as the "killer of classes."

Yazidi Women Are Insistent on This Existence

Eleven years may not be enough to ensure the sustainability of this defense of existence, but it is not a short period. Although part of the energy of the Yazidi community, especially Yazidi women, has been invested in healing the wounds of the system over the past eleven years, this should not obscure the truth that has taken root. When a society reaches the brink of collapse and then rises from it, everyone should know that it will not be easy to predict its destiny based on that society.

We have all witnessed how the Yazidi community rose in 2014 from a deep abyss. That was no small feat. Without the power of Leader Öcalan, this community could not have risen from that abyss on the verge of collapse.

The current phase the Yazidi community is going through is characterized by this trait. At a time when the region is witnessing a fierce war, leaving the Yazidi community unprotected is suicide. It is a tremendous loss. The protection of the Yazidi community is only achieved by protecting Shingal. For the Yazidi community to ensure its existence by defending itself, and to avoid falling into error, it must adhere to the duties of internal unity, alliance, and social solidarity. If it fulfills these duties, the Yazidi community will build its existence on the self-security of its land and guarantee its place.