South Kurdistan’s ruling party KDP has stepped into action for the implementation of the October 9 Agreement against the Yazidi town of Shengal. The 'Shengal Agreement' was signed between the previous government of Baghdad and Hewler (Erbil) on October 9, 2020.

According to reports from the ground, the KDP is currently forcing the new Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, to implement the agreement. The KDP is said to be favouring Hazim Tahsin Beg as the Mir of the Yazidis. Mir is a title for community leaders among the Yazidis.

The Shengal Tribal Leaders Union made a statement responding to the KDP’s plan.

The statement pointed out that the KDP was planning to intervene in Shengal through the election of a new Yazidi Mir. The statement said: “Recently, they have started to create unrest among the communities in Shengal to cause a mess. They want to destroy the common life in Shengal. Everyone knows very well that the Yazidis are not against any other religion.”

The statement continued: “Because the KDP knew that some of their plans would be exposed during the Iraqi Prime Minister’s planned visit to Shengal, it promoted Hazim Tahsin Beg as the Mir of the Yazidis and blocked the Prime Minister's visit through false statements.

We call on Hazim Tahsin Beg not to speak on behalf of our people and the Yazidis anymore. Hazim is no longer considered a Mir because he is acting in the interests of certain political parties.”