Nine years after the beginning of the ISIS genocide against the Yazidi population, Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ), Shengal Women's Units (YJŞ) and the security forces Asayîşa Êzidxanê gathered for a moving memorial ceremony at the Şehîd Dilgeş û Şehîd Berxwedan Cemetery of Martyrs to remember the victims. At the same time, the current danger to the Shengal region from Turkey, the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) and the Iraqi government was pointed out, emphasising the need for organisation as a means against this.
Kurtay Shengalî gave a speech on behalf of the YBŞ and YJŞ and said: "August is a dark month for us, for the entire Yazidi people. The enemies and occupiers committed massacres this month and our people experienced unspeakable suffering. Thousands of people, men, women, old and young, were cruelly murdered. No one asked about us except those who had a conscience and shed tears for us."
Shengalî continued: "Those who threw themselves into the flames for us after the mass murder began were the Apoist fighters who were ready to make sacrifices. They defended our people. Commanders like Şehîd Berxwedan, Şehîd Said, Şehîd Hamit and Şehîd Zerdeşt saved our people from mass murder. No matter how great the persecution the enemy wants to inflict on us, there will always be heroines and heroes who will stand up to them. Those who imposed this mass murder on us were those who betrayed their own people for their own interests. These traitors sold out our people. That is why we must know our friends and enemies well."
Shengalî concluded his speech with the words: "We are proud of our martyrs who saved us from genocide. Our people must believe in their own strength and will. The YBŞ, the YJŞ and the Asayîşa Êzidxanê were built with the blood of our martyrs and the strength of Leader Öcalan."