On March 18, the Iraqi army set up an ambush in the Yazidi city of Shengal and captured five fighters of the Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ), injuring a commander and two fighters.

Following the attack, which escalated tensions in the city, the people of Shengal took action. Despite intense reactions, the fighters have not yet been released. On Wednesday, families of the captured fighters started a sit-in protest in front of the Iraqi Intelligence Center in Shengal.

The Autonomous Administration of Shengal, TAJÊ (Yazidi Women’s Freedom Movement) and affiliated institutions, organizations and components, as well as Shengal Council of Tribes and Arab components made a joint statement at the Şehit Dilgeş-Şehîd Berxwedan Cemetery of Martyrs in the Serdesht district.

The statement demanded the release of captured fighters and an apology from Baghdad to the people and defense forces of Shengal.

“As the Autonomous Administration of Shengal, we condemn the actions of the Iraqi army in the strongest terms. The Iraqi government should apologize to the Yazidi community and the YBŞ defense forces and release the fighters,” the statement demanded.