ZEHRA ŞENGALÎ

Shengal (Sinjar)- In an interview with NuJINHA, Riham Hico, Spokesperson of the Yazidi Free Women's Movement (Kurdish: Tevgera Azadiya Jinên Êzîdî-TAJÊ), made evaluations on the International Women’s Day. “As Yazidi women, we began to celebrate the International Women’s Day 10 years ago, after the genocide against us. Before the genocide, we wanted to celebrate this day; however, the KDP did not allow us,” she said. “Once, women living in the village of Guhbel tried to celebrate it; however, the KDP forces did not allow them to celebrate their day.”

 ‘Yazidi women are aware of how much power they have’

Mentioning the 10-year struggle of Yazidi women since the genocide, Riham Hico said, “During the genocide, the Yazidi community suffered from many difficulties such as hunger, thirst, massacre and abduction. The whereabouts of hundreds of abducted women are still unknown. Yazidi women were subjected to war crimes, a genocide. The KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) paved the way for the genocide against the Yazidi community. Since the genocide, Yazidi women are aware of the importance and meaning of March 8 and how much power they have.” She also spoke about the roles of Yazidi women in their community. “We learned how women play an important role in their societies and educated ourselves by learning the thoughts and the philosophy of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan). The colors of women show up in March, especially on March 8. Since February 20, Yazidi women have been preparing to celebrate the International Women’s Day.”

‘We must protect our rights against the patriarchal mindset’

Pointing to the rights violations experienced by women due to traditions and sexism, Riham Hico said, “As the TAJÊ, we struggle to end early marriage and child marriage. Men usually oppose gender equality. We must protect our rights against this patriarchal mindset. One of our most important duties is to find solutions to the problems faced by women.”

 ‘It is the duty of all women to struggle’

Riham Hico also gave information about the campaign to be launched by the TAJÊ on March 8. “On March 8, we will launch a campaign with the motto, ‘Be the voice of self-defense against femicide. It is the duty of all women to struggle against the killing of Yazidi women. Women all around the world, especially in the Middle East, Kurdistan and Iraq, raise their voices against the killing of Yazidi women. We will hold many events and activities to promote our campaign.”

‘We will keep working for the autonomy of Shengal’

Last year, Yazidi women celebrated the International Women’s Day with the motto, “We will take revenge for the genocide by chanting the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi slogan”. “As women, we have carried out many activities in shengal since last year. As the TAJÊ, we carried out many diplomatic works for the recognition of Shengal’s autonomy and the genocide committed against us by ISIS. For the first time, Yazidi women carried out activities with the international organizations in Germany. We also went to Lebanon. We will keep working for the autonomy of Shengal. Since March 8, 2023, we have sent letters to many embassies, international and regional organizations for the autonomy of Shengal and held many meetings with Iraqi women to discuss our problems and the genocide against Yazidi women. In cooperation with women’s organizations, we held a workshop in Sulaymaniyah to discuss the genocide against Yazidi women and problems faced by women. In addition, we held a workshop in Shengal on the We also held a workshop in Shengal on the anniversary of the liberation of Shengal.”

‘We call on all Yazidi women to participate in the march’

 The Yazidi Free Women's Movement will hold a march in Shengal on March 6 to celebrate the International Women’s Day. Riham Hico called on all Yazidi women to “participate in the march by wearing your traditional clothes. We will hold an activity at Geliyê Kersê, the garden of leader Apo. We will raise our voices that have not been heard for thousands of years. We will raise our voices against injustice and inequalities. We will raise our voices for the physical freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the autonomy of Shengal.”