The General Command of People’s Defense Units (YPG) released a statement marking the 10th anniversary of the brutal ISIS onslaught and mass slaughter in the Yazidi town of Shengal (Sinjar) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
“As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of this tragedy, we honor the memory of those who lost their lives and the brave freedom fighters who sacrificed themselves to save our Yazidi brethren,” said the YPG statement on Saturday, which further included the following:
“The Yazidis have preserved the most ancient Kurdish traditions and maintained their identity through the ages. Historically subjected to numerous massacres, the Yazidis encountered the most brutal atrocity on August 3rd. During this horrific event orchestrated by ISIS, thousands of Yazidis were murdered, and thousands more, predominantly women and children, were abducted and sold in slave markets. The massacre involved many forces collaborating with ISIS, making those who planned and executed it equally culpable. Additionally, those who failed to defend the Yazidi people and ignored the massacre share in the responsibility for this atrocity. The perpetrators of this genocide must be held accountable and tried in international courts.
While the Yazidis were being massacred by ISIS under the world’s watchful eye, the international community remained silent. It was the Kurdish freedom guerrillas who first intervened to stop this atrocity, followed by our YPG-YPJ forces, who rescued our people from annihilation. It is crucial to recognize that the attack on the Yazidi people was an attack on humanity itself. The resistance of the freedom fighters halted ISIS’ savagery and spared humanity from a great catastrophe.
After failing in Shengal, the occupying forces shifted their focus to Western Kurdistan (Rojava) to avenge their defeat. The resistance of the YPG-YPJ rendered ISIS ineffective in Rojava, showcasing the resilient spirit of the Kurdish people to the world.
Despite their defeat, the genocidal forces continued their attacks on our people through different means. The Turkish state, unable to accept ISIS’ defeat, has repeatedly attacked the Yazidi community in Shengal vengefully. These assaults have resulted in the deaths of dozens of Yazidis and fighters. With these attacks, the Turkish state seeks to complete the Yazidi genocide. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of significant response from international powers to these ongoing assaults, which are a continuation of the ISIS massacre. The Turkish state poses a grave threat to all Middle Eastern peoples, particularly the Yazidis. We call on all international powers and regional states to stand against these genocidal attacks by the Turkish state.
As the YPG, the people’s defense forces, we reaffirm our commitment to defending our people as we did in the past. Our stance against any attack on the Yazidi community is unequivocal. Just as we defended the Yazidis ten years ago, we are fully prepared today to protect our people with all our might.
On the 10th anniversary of the Shengal massacre, we once again honor the memory of those who lost their lives and the brave freedom fighters who sacrificed themselves to protect our community. We pledge to uphold the legacy of our martyrs and to continue safeguarding our people against any and all threats.”
In other news, the martyrs of the 74th Edict [genocide] and the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle were commemorated at a ceremony, and a call was made to expand the struggle of the Kurdish and Yazidi peoples.
Axîn Intikam, who spoke on behalf of the YJŞ and YBŞ Command at the ceremony, said : “I respectfully and gratefully commemorate the martyrs of the 74th Edict. Again, I bow before the memories of the martyrs who shielded the people in the Ferman, and I respectfully and gratefully remember our martyrs.”
Turkey targets Kurds using ISIS and KDP
Intikam added: “We cannot say that the Ferman is over, and we are living freely anymore. In this decade, the revolutionary struggle that we have been carrying out as the YBŞ and YJŞ forces under the leadership of Martyr Said Heval was led by Martyr Dijwar, Zerdeşt, Pir Çeko and dozens of other friends. They pioneered Êzidxan and sacrificed their lives to protect the Êzidxan culture. We have resisted many attacks and dirty conspiracies in this ten-year period, and we will continue to resist all kinds of attacks against our society.”
Axîn Intikam also touched upon the attacks by the occupying Turkish state and said: “Now, just like ISIS, Erdoğan is destroying and plundering everything, regardless of race or nation. He is plundering and occupying the lands of Kurdistan. The Turkish state wants to ‘update’ ISIS and implement its plans. He is not only keeping ISIS alive, but also gathering gangs around the KDP and having them attack the people. We are aware of this Neo-Ottoman plan and will not accept it. We are ready to protect not only the Yazidi society but also all the people living in Iraq, especially the minorities. We will continue to resist the occupying enemy who wants to destroy all cultures, religions and beliefs.”
Let’s oppose these dirty plans
Intikam added: “The Barzanis continue the betrayal they committed against the Yazidi society during the genocide by making it even bigger today. The Barzani family is known for its treason, and today it is acting together with ISIS gangs. They are trying to destroy the culture, beliefs and existence of the Yazidis. On the 10th anniversary of the genocide, we call on the entire public opinion to stand against these dirty plans.
The occupying enemy wants to occupy all of Iraq and South Kurdistan. We are warning everyone that if this plan is for South Kurdistan today, it will be for all of Iraq tomorrow.”
Intikam said: “As YBŞ and YJŞ forces, we have shed blood on every inch of this land in order to defend the Autonomous Shengal and the sacred Êzidxan and to protect our achievements. We will not allow other massacres to take place by deepening our style and tactics.
We call on all our people to protect our lands, return to Shengal and protect these sacred lands. Finally, we respectfully and gratefully remember our martyrs once again and reiterate our promise to protect these sacred lands.”