NESRÎN HISÊN

Shengal (Sinjar)- On June 15, 2022, Turkish drones targeted and shelled the Sinunê Peoples’ Assembly and shops in the town of Sinunê located in the Shengal. The attack killed a shopkeeper and his 12-year-old grandson and injured seven civilians, including a journalist. The women of Shengal spoke to NuJINHA about the attack and said that the ongoing Turkish attacks are continuation of the genocide against Yazidi people in 2014.

“They want to complete the genocide”

Berfê Elyas, a mother in Shengal, began to talk by condemning the killing of 12-year-old child and said that the ongoing Turkish attacks in Shengal are the continuation of the genocide committed against them in 2014. Stating that the Yazidi people have been strengthening themselves for seven years and no one can break their will, Berfê Elyas said, “The attempts to annihilate our people will be frustrated. Those who supported ISIS sent ISIS members to Shengal and sold Shengal for their own interests. When they saw that ISIS was defeated, they began to use their agents to complete the unfinished genocide. Those who defeated ISIS will also defeat the enemies.” 

“They target our organized power”

Indicating that the aim of the attacks is to destroy their organized power, Berfê Elyas said, “The assemblies in Sinun and Xanesor (Khanasoor) are our organized power. These assemblies determine the needs of people and meet their needs. The enemy wants to leave us without our power by attacking our leaders, our assemblies and our mountains.”

“We should work for Yazidism”

Pointing to the provocateur groups, Berfê Elyas said, “The attackers are the Turkish state, the PDK and Iraqi government. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK or KDP) trained some Yazidis in the camps located in Sharjah to use them against the security forces of the Yazidi people. The Yazidi people should not be deceived anymore. Our people should not forget the killing of a 12-year-old child and they should rise up against the enemy. The Yazidi people living in camps face pressure every day. All of us should work for Yazidism.”

“The international community should not remain silent against these attacks”

Hediya Birahim, a member of the Sinunê Peoples’ Assembly, also condemned the Turkish attacks. Underlining that the Peoples’ Assemblies are among the most visited places by the Yazidis, she said, “Dozens of people were there on the day of the attack on the Peoples’ Assembly and many were injured in the attack. The international community should not remain silent against these barbaric attacks. We condemn the attacks on our assemblies.”

Stating that the attacks are a continuation of the agreement signed on October 9, Hediya Birahim said that the Yazidi people should exhibit a strong stance against such attacks, “I call on our people to unite and rise up against the enemies.”