In a written statement, The Democratic Êzidî Society Coordination said that the Êzidîs had still not recovered from the deep trauma, despite the 2 years since the firman, and continued:

“After the Firman, they have been trying to heal their wounds and rebuild life at the same time. Our people are trying to continue their existence by hanging on to Shengal Mountain despite all harsh conditions and all hardships. The regional government turns the aid offered by international relief organisations into political advantage for themselves in the basis of organising themselves, and deprives the people who don’t support them of these aid materials. Our people have been held under isolation conditions for two years and an undeclared embargo is applied in Shengal. KDP has closed the gates to Southern Kurdistan, hindered trade and limited the living space for our people in Shengal to such extent that they can’t take their sick to the doctor. They are forcing obedience on the Êzidîs with all these practices.

Those who left the Êzidîs alone to face a massacre, those who pushed Êzidîs to the hands of ISIS, continue the Firman in different ways in Shengal today, when they should be paying for their betrayal.”

“DIRTY PLAYS BEING STAGED”

The statement stressed that: “The powers that have staged dirty plays for their political interests by taking advantage of the disorganised Êzidî people, their poverty and the hardships they have endured, now want to use Êzidîs as pawns in their dirty games.

The lands of Shengal are sacred for the Êzidî people. The Êzidîs should rule themselves with their own will in Shengal, and Shengal should be left for the Êzidîs. This is not tearing Kurdistan apart, as some claim, but the survival of Êzidîsm, which is the root culture of Kurds as well. Different beliefs and cultures should be recognized in their authenticity and be allowed space to exist and actualize themselves. Those who still wish to create a hegemony over Êzidîs and those who forge dirty relationships of interest to this end, wish to reach their goals through the abuse of Êzidîs. Those who try to take advantage of the weaknesses of Êzidî people, to buy their will, to use them as mercenaries in their political interests, are the enemies of the Êzidî people. They have attempted several different gatherings and are looking to make the leaders of the Êzidî society, thought and spiritual leaders and heads of tribes, their accomplice.”

“WANTING PKK OUT IS THE BIGGEST HARM”

The Coordination has reacted strongly against the anti-PKK attempts and said: “Those who tried to remove the Êzidîs from their lands, whereas the PKK came to their aid in the darkest hour of the Êzidîs, saved the people from a massacre, and defended the sacred land with hundreds of martyrs to this cause, are in a dangerous game. Wanting the Êzidîs to have a will, defending them, trying to help them become self-governing are the reasons the PKK is in Shengal. The ISIS threat has still not disappeared, and some Êzidî villages are still under ISIS occupation. Under these circumstances, provoking the Êzidîs against the PKK and wanting PKK out of Shengal means leaving Êzidîs alone to face new massacres, and forcing them to accept another sovereignty. Wanting PKK out of Shengal and trying to accomplish this goal through the Êzidîs is the biggest evil one can do to Êzidîs.”

“LET’S NOT GIVE THE TRAITORS THE CHANCE”

Democratic Êzidî Society Coordination stated that the Êzidî people should not give those who betray them a chance, and concluded with the following:

“They shouldn’t be a tool in the hands of those who caused the massacre. They should forge their own unity, they should organise and try to void the games being forced upon them. They should make those who caused the Firman and those who committed crimes against the Êzidî people pay, they should take a stance and refuse to be party to their crimes. In this sense, we are calling the Êzidî people to protect their own future, develop their self defense without anybody’s help, take lessons from the previous Firmans and be aware for the future. We call on the Êzidî people to see the dangers looming over our people and fight against all kinds of attacks.”