Shengal Executive Council issued a written statement on the Turkish state’s attacks and threats against Afrin and said the following:

“The AKP state and Erdogan are afraid of the development of democracy and coexistence of peoples in the Middle East, and in particular in areas where Êzidî people live, and consider these to be the end of them. That is why now they are attacking Rojava. Since the people of Rojava started to fight for their freedom, fascist Erdogan and his government have been threatening and attacking. They are playing every trick to hinder and take down the Northern Syrian Federation. They don’t accept peoples governing themselves and having authority anywhere. They also objected to the people of Shengal forming their system and government and carried out various attacks.

Today the people of Rojava possess a will, and that frightens fascist Erdogan and his government. He can’t stomach that. So he first attacked the Êzidî villages in Efrîn. Looking at recent history, it can be seen that millions of Êzidîs in Bakurê (Northern) Kurdistan have had to immigrate due to dozens of decrees of genocides and the genocide by the Turkish state against Êzidî society.

Even now, he targets places Êzidîs live and wants to carry out a genocide. The Turkish state pushed Êzidîs out of Bakurê Kurdistan, and is now attacking Êzidîs in Shengal and Rojava. Erdogan is as much an enemy of Êzidî society’s faith and religion as he is of democracy.

As the Shengal Executive Council, we condemn fascist Erdogan and his government. We state that we stand with our people in Rojava and Afrin in particular. Like Rojava defended us in the dark days, now this duty falls on our shoulders. With a spirit of mobilization, we must defend Afrin with all our might. Everybody should know that Êzidxan (Ezidi land) stands with Afrin. We are prepared to do our part for Afrin.”