Speaking to ANF Turkish service, Dijwar Faqir, a commander of Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) commented about the recent developments after the independence referendum in Southern Kurdistan and Êzidî people’s position on the matter. Faqir said that Êzidîs are not against the independence of Kurdistan and called for a referendum on autonomy in Shengal region.

In August 2014, ISIS attacked and captured Shengal. The peshmerga forces retreated without fighting and since then KDP and Southern Kurdistan administration’s role in defence of Shengal is highly debated. 

"THE REFERENDUM PROCESS WAS NOT INCLUSIVE AND DEMOCRATIC"

YBŞ commander said that before the independence referendum there was no dialogue between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Êzidî organizations, and criticized unilateral decision-making process about the referendum decision.

Faqir pointed out that the referendum process was not inclusive and democratic.

“Nobody asked for our opinion, there was no information sharing (before the referendum). Êzidî people have their will, demands and concerns. If a process is developed by turning a blind eye on Êzidî people’s will, this will create some discussion. But we have to say that people’s demands for independence is legitimate. We are not against it. We said that we are not against referendum in the beginning. If the process was more democratic the Êzidî people may have supported it more strongly” he said.

Faqir called for a referendum on autonomy in Shengal and said: “The legitimacy of the referendum cannot be discussed. Our point is the method, the process and the approach (of KRG). We want to see the same sensitivity about Shengal as well. We say that a there should be a referendum on autonomy in Shengal. It will be a declaration of our people’s democratic will and demands.”

Faqir called on Êzidîs to support the democratic autonomy as offered by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and stated that the project that will save the Êzidîs from slavery.