In the Yazidi settlement area of ​​Shengal, protests against the agreement between Hewler and Baghdad which threatens the dissolution of the region's self-governing structures continue.

For the 38th day in a row, people gathered to join the vigil in front of the Asayîşh Êzîdxanê building to defend the local security forces.

On 9 October 2020, Hewler signed an agreement with the Iraqi central government to reinstall its rule in the region. The agreement includes the closure of the region's self-defense and security forces.

Many people from Shengal are not ready to accept this new attack on their structures. The Yazidi community was faced with genocide in August 2014 when the Islamic State attacked the region.

A wide variety of groups joins the vigil every day under the slogan “We are all the Asayîşh”. The vigil is very popular among the population.

So far the Iraqi government has not taken any practical steps against the security forces, but has not withdrawn the agreement to dissolve them.

Xidir Hemo, a member of the Council of the Martyrs’ Families Council, said that he joined the vigil because the security forces in the region guarantee the existence of the Yazidi community and stand for the political will of the people. “This action is of great importance for us. As the father of a fallen man, I call on my people to take part in the defense of our achievements.”

Outrage over reinstallation of the KDP rule

The reinstallation of the KDP rule is particularly explosive for the Shengal region, because the KDP collaborates with Turkey and in 2014 openly left the Yazidis in the hands of the Islamic State with their hasty retreat.