There is a large group of Êzidî refugees from Shengal in the state-run AFAD camp in Mardin’s Midyat district. The Êzidîs fled ISIS cruelty and came here, but they are subjected to the same practices.

HDP Mardin MP Ali Atalan said they received reports that there are ISIS members in the camp and added: “Êzidîs have unfortunately been left to the mercy of their killers.”

“THERE ARE ISIS MEMBERS IN THE CAMP”

HDP Mardin MP Ali Atalan spoke to the ANF about the practices in the camp and said there are many issues in the AFAD camp in Midyat. Atalan said as an Êzidî member of parliament, he still can’t enter that camp, but that there are ISIS members in there, and added: “There is a military order there. According to reports we received, in the camp there are ISIS members who have killed Êzidîs. This is a known fact. We believe they have been deliberately brought to these camps in particular. We wrote to AFAD to visit the camp, but we are still waiting for their reply. We can’t find any responsible person. We can only speak on the phone or meet with people going outside the camp to get information. We don’t have the chance to inspect the camp and see everything in action. Êzidîs have unfortunately been left to the mercy of their killers.”

“ÊZIDÎS ARE NOT SEEN AS REFUGEES”

Ali Atalan pointed out that Êzidîs are being treated as second class refugees. He said Êzidîs can’t benefit from the same rights as other refugees, like hospital visits and access to medicine, and added: “The right to treatment and accessing medicine without co-pay is unfortunately not valid for Êzidîs. The problems have continued ever since they arrived from Shengal. Residency, status, health issues have seen no end. The source of these probems is the AKP government’s approach to Êzidîs. Êzidîs who came from Shengal particularly are given trouble. These are reflections of a sick political mindset. The current government does not recognize Êzidîs, they don’t see it as a faith. They haven’t recognized, let alone condemned, the Shengal Genocide. And they don’t see people from there as first class refugees.”