The Democratic Autonomous Assembly of Shengal (MXDŞ) released a statement to mark the 73rd birthday of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on April 4.

The statement released on Monday includes the following:

“According to the Yazidi creed, April is the holiest month and the month of the rebirth of the universe. Öcalan’s birthday bears great meaning for us. Thanks to his ideas, the Yazidi people have become able to prevent massacres against themselves.

Öcalan’s birthday is also of great importance to all peoples in the Middle East. Societies have once again risen with their own ideas and philosophies and got to know themselves.

'SYMBOL OF RESISTANCE AND HOPE'

For us, Öcalan is a symbol of resistance and hope. After the 74th genocide perpetrated against us, we learned about the culture of resistance, self-protection and self-knowledge thanks to the philosophy of Öcalan. Since we have developed a culture of resistance based on the ideas of ​​the Kurdish leader, the Turkish state and its allies are continuing to attack us.

'WOMEN BROKE THEIR CHAINS THANKS TO ÖCALAN'

Thousands of Yazidi women fell into the hands of mercenary groups and became victims of the dominant systems. However, after thousands of years of oppression, women have gained their freedom by breaking their chains and undertaken a mission for the construction of an equal and democratic society. They have reclaimed their identities and existence. The passion for a free life has become their main goal.

Since solutions to the problems in the Middle East rely on the freedom of Öcalan, the hegemonic powers, specifically the invading Turkish state, have imposed an aggravated isolation on Öcalan. This isolation targets all free people.

We no longer remain submissive to anyone, and we are moving forward to obtain our autonomy and legitimate rights. We promise to Öcalan and the martyrs of the Yazidi people to build an autonomous and free Êzdixan (Yazidi land) as they dreamed of.

As the components of Shengal, we are governing ourselves, facing obstacles from Iraq, the KDP and the Turkish state. We call on our people to unite around Öcalan’s ideas, to reclaim his leadership, and to be vigilant against the enemy's dirty plans for Shengal.”