After the genocide by the so-called ISIS against the Yazidis, which began on 3 August 2014 in the Shengal (Sinjar) region, tens of thousands were forced to flee their homes. A large part of the Yazidis who did not want to leave the region were accommodated in the Çem Mişko, Keber 1, Keber 2, Bacid Kendale, Şariye, Xankê, Qadiya and Erbad camps. Although eight years have passed since the genocide and Shengal has been liberated, the Yazidis continue to struggle for survival in the camps in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). In an interview with ANF, Merwan Shengali from the Yazidi Party for Freedom and Democracy (PADÊ) talks about the background to this situation.

"The majority still live in the same tent"

Shengalî pointed out that the Yazidis in the camps have to live under very poor living conditions: "They face difficulties in all areas of life. For example, most of them are still living in the tents they bought in 2014. Many tents have burnt down to this day and there are serious security problems in the tents. In short, life in the camps is not life."

As to the reasons why these Yazidis nevertheless do not return, Shengalî said: "One of the reasons is that the budgetary funds [of the Iraqi state] allocated for the construction of the region are still not spent on Shengal. The autonomous administration of Shengal is able to meet the needs of the population to a certain extent within the means and possibilities at its disposal. However, our facilities are inadequate and if the Iraqi government does not provide support, people cannot return and the problems with infrastructure and services cannot be solved."

"Double standard of the central government"

Merwan Shengalî pointed out that there are serious problems in the area of public services, especially water and electricity, and that the autonomous administration of Shengal cannot deal with these problems alone. Shengalî stressed that the central government in Baghdad should support the people of Shengal as much as the return of Iraqis to their land: "Unfortunately, the government has double standards and the people of Shengal are deprived of this support. We want the Iraqi government to provide all kinds of material and moral support to those who want to return to Shengal, especially the payment of compensation for the material damage caused." The politician explained that this is not an obstacle to return, while the appointed governors of Shengal are always connected to some political forces and only promote their clientele.

"There is no security problem in Shengal"

Regarding the allegations that there is no security in the region, Shengalî said: "There is no security problem in Shengal, not even the sound of bullets can be heard. We ask those who have made these claims to answer the following question: Is South Kurdistan safe? ISIS carries out attacks every day in all regions of Iraq. Moreover, how can one speak of security when the territory of South Kurdistan is occupied both on land and from the air? Shengal is also part of this region, and this is the Middle East. It is altogether a region where attacks and deaths can happen every day. However, Shengal is safer than other regions of South Kurdistan, because Shengal trusts in its own strength. If this were not the case and there was another power in Shengal, people would have left Shengal if something had happened. But there is no such thing now, people are fighting back despite all kinds of attacks from the Turkish state."

"The people who do not return could lose their country"

The PADÊ representative stressed that the Yazidis should return of their own will and not under pressure from the UN or Iraq, and continued: "After all the previous genocides and expulsions that the Yazidis have experienced, those who left their land did not return and their property and land were left to others. The same danger exists now. Those who do not return to Shengal now may lose their land later."

Shengalî pointed out that Sunni Arabs, Shiites and Turkmen have returned to Til Afar in the neighbourhood: "If these ethnic groups return and the Yazidis do not, then there is danger there. Because the unclaimed areas could be confiscated."

"Why are those rescued from the hands of ISIS not brought to Shengal?"

Finally, the PADÊ representative highlighted an important detail in the policy towards Shengal. He reported that Yazidi women and children who have been liberated from the hands of ISIS are deliberately taken abroad instead of being able to return to Shengal: "The freed people are taken abroad for treatment. This is part of the policy of displacing people from Shengal. They don't want the events and the resulting memories to stay alive here."