ISIS mercenaries launched their genocidal attacks on Shengal on 3 August 2014. The pain caused by those attacks on the Yazidi community in Shengal has not yet subsided. Thousands of Yazidi Kurds were massacred. Thousands of children and women were abducted. Hundreds of thousands of Yazidis fled the attacks and took shelter on Mount Shengal.

Many, then, took refuge in Rojava and Bashur Kurdistan. Thousands of Yazidis continue to live in camps. The massacre was committed against the Yazidis before the eyes of the whole world and eventually, some states and international institutions recognized this attack as genocide. However, the Iraqi government did not recognize it as genocide and did not even bring it onto the parliamentary agenda.

Iraq government must recognize the genocide

Zorava Municipality Councilor Dilşad Biro said: "Our society needs organization and alliance more than bread and water. The Iraqi government has so far not recognized 3 August 2014 as genocide. What can we expect from such a government? Although our beliefs are different, we are citizens of this place. If they don't acknowledge our existence, we won't count them either."

KDP is an obstacle to self-government

Dilşad Biro stated that the KDP was making games to prevent the self-government of Shengal. "Some of our Êzidî people sold themselves to some parties in exchange for money. The Bashur government attracted a large number of headmen and Yazidi faith circles. These people stand as obstacles to the rebuilding of Shengal. The KDP creates obstacles to the return home of the Yazidis. Our people living in the camps should not listen to their lies. At the time of the attack, the KDP left the Yazidi community alone. 25 thousand people were left defenseless against ISIS attacks. They neither defended nor gave weapons for people to defend themselves. They attacked the people of Zorava and killed 3 members of our association."

We are strong military and administratively

Biro said that they have come to a stronger position in terms of military and organization policy and added: "We do not need anyone in terms of military and self-government now. We have military strength. The YBŞ, YJŞ and Êzidxan Asayish are defending us. We sleep comfortably because we trust our forces. After today, no one should say that Yazidi society is defenseless. We are stronger today."

KDP used for itself the aid destined to Shengal

Dihola Association Spokesperson Îdo Resho stated that the Iraqi government was a party to the genocide because it could not even prosecute a single ISIS mercenary. Resho said: “Although 9 years have passed, the Iraqi government has not taken a step towards Shengal. In such a situation, how would they bring a mercenary who is covered in Yazidi blood to court and put them on trial? Many countries and international organizations accepted the massacre in Shengal as genocide and supported the Yazidis. Financial aid was also provided to support the Yazidis' rebuilding efforts. But the KDP and the South Kurdish government spent this money and did not allow it to reach our society."

Shengal is the Damascus of the Yazidis

Resho continued: “Shengal is a place of existence and non-existence. If there was no Shengal, we would not exist. Our elders always used to say that Shengal is the Damascus of the Yazidis. We will resist accordingly. We will defend ourselves and we will succeed with our own strength."