Êzidî people have protested the agreement between the Iraqi Government and Kurdistan Regional Government on Shengal for 101 days. “As they saw us, they blocked us with armored vehicles. They held guns to women’s bellies. They set electric traps on roads to block cars. There is no difference between them and Daesh,” said Nafya Meşu, member of the PADE.

SITÎ ROZ

Shengal-On August 3, 2014, a scream was heard at 02:00. This scream was the scream of Êzidîs living in Shengal. People around the world witnessed how Daesh brutally killed Êzidî women, children, young people, and elders. When Daesh invaded Mosul on June 11, the people in Shengal, 126 kilometers far away from Mosul, realized the danger and began taking up arms as much as they could. At that time, the Ministry of Peshmerga was responsible for the defense of the region and it announced that those who had weapons in the region would surrender their weapons and that those who had weapons and ammunition would be punished. Peshmerga promised people to protect them.

People left unprotected

But they didn’t protect people living in Shengal. On August 3, 2014, Daesh attacked Êzidîs’ villages named Girk Zerik and Siba Şex Xıdır. At the same time, the peshmerga began to withdraw from the region. People living in the Zorava village of Shengal saw the Peshmerga members withdrawing from the region and told them, “Leave your weapons, we will fight” but the Peshmerga members killed three Êzidîs there. In the morning, at 07:00, Êzidîs fled to the mountains to not be killed by Daesh. People have written many things about the edict against Êzidîs but no one has done anything to bring those who carried the genocide against Êzidîs.

People have protested the agreement for 101 days in tents

The Iraqi Government and Kurdistan Regional Government signed an agreement about Shengal on October 9, 2020. In this agreement, they decided to “not recognize the Shengal’s Autonomous Administration” and "close the Êzidxan Asayish (founded by Êzidîs).” Êzidî people have staged a protest against the agreement for 101 days. The Baghdadi government warned the people to evacuate the asayish buildings in Shengal. Yesterday, Democratic Autonomous Council in Shengal (MXŞD) called on people to defend their asayish. Upon the call, Êzidî people flocked to the streets to protect their gains and asayish. But Chidala asayish prevented people from passing. In response, people protested against them. As a result of the resistance of Êzidî women and young people, the security gate was opened to the people. During the tension between people and asayish forces, a woman named Nadya was slightly injured in the head.

Negotiations start

As a result of the determination of people, the negotiations have started. Yesterday, a delegation consists of Shengal Autonomous Administration Representatives, Foreign Affairs Representative Xebat Herbo, and TAJE Shengal Spokesperson Neam Bedel met with Iraqi officials. The delegation presented the demands of people to the Iraqi authorities.

Êzidî Freedom and Democracy Party (PADE) member Nafya Meşu told us what happened yesterday. “We began to march to support our asayish. As they saw us, they blocked us with armored vehicles. They held guns to women’s bellies. They set electric traps on roads to block cars. They say they are Iraqi people but there is no difference between them and Daesh.”

“We will never bow to anyone”

“We will never accept this,” Nafya Meşu told us, “Surely, we resisted them as women. Even if only one of us remains, we will protect and defend our asayish. We will never bow to anyone. We will keep protesting if we don’t reach any agreement. If they don’t recognize our asayish, we will not recognize their asayish.”