According to media reports, the Iraqi government is building a camp in the Nineveh Governorate for Iraqi citizens who are currently housed in the Hol Camp near Hesekê, in northern Syria. The majority of these people are said to be members of jihadists terrorist organization ISIS.

Reports say that the camp, which is currently under construction and scheduled for completion soon, is located in the town of Zumar, which administratively belongs to Nineveh, which is near Shengal. The camp is expected to accommodate up to 3,140 ISIS families who are now staying in camps in North-East Syria. Four thousand tents are will be set up in the camp which will reportedly be administered by the Ministry of Displacement and Migration.

Co-Chairs of European Syriac Union (ESU), Hülya Gabriel and Tony Vergili, and Chair of the Yazidi Exile Council of Sinjar (Shengal), Fikret İğrek released a statement on the reports and said; “This development is a real concern and worrying for the remaining Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians and Yazidi people in Iraq. The Iraqi government and local authorities have a constitutional obligation to protect local populations and their well-being.”

The statement by the two Yazidi organisations includes the following;

“Sinjar and Nineveh Plain are two authentic regions of Iraq home for Yazidi and Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people native of the region who contributed plenty to the social, cultural, and political life of Iraq. While Nineveh Plain is a unique place for Levant Christianity with its churches, monasteries and monuments, on the other hand Sinjar region is unmatched with its importance for Yazidi community, home to Lalish. For thousands of years these two regions have been sanctuary for the ancient communities.

During ISIS resurgence and occupation of Nineveh Plain and Sinjar region in 2014, hundreds of thousands of people were forced out of their land, killed, abducted, massacred, while women and children were kidnapped by ISIS. Moreover, historical churches, monasteries and religious monuments were desecrated and destroyed. Amidst chaos and conflict, the European Parliament, US administration and states recognised the ISIS genocide against ethics and religious minorities in Iraq. Even if the recognition of genocide constitutes important action, still beleaguered communities are in need of solidarity, support and guarantee for their survival and existence.

Amidst the ongoing political, social and economic difficulties and upheaval in Iraq, ongoing plan to build camps for majority ISIS detainees in Syria in Nineveh Plain - Sinjar region constitutes major challenge and danger for Yazidi people and Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians. During the ISIS presence in 2014, the aforementioned groups were targeted and suffered immensely. For this reason, any attempt and project to build camps for ISIS detainees in Sinjar and Nineveh Plain must be annulled in respect for the local communities and long-term preservation of social and cultural fabric.

Iraqi components Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian and Yazidi people have relentlessly repeated their demands in Iraq and international platforms for many years. In several international conferences and meetings with officials they highlighted the necessity of autonomous regions to protect their own people and safeguard their future and existence.

On this occasion, we as ESU and Sinjar Council, call on Iraqi government and local authorities to respect the will of local communities and internal peace of the regions and to annul publicly the construction of any camps in Nineveh Plain and Sinjar region. On the other hand, at the same time, we expect the support of international community, organisations and human rights organisations to stand with our cause and support us at these perilous times.”