On Tuesday, the co-chairman of the Executive Council of the Shengal Autonomous Council, Merwan Bedel, was killed in his vehicle by a Turkish drone. His two children, who were also in the vehicle that was attacked in the town of Khanasor, were rescued.

On Wednesday morning, Bedel's body was taken from the hospital in Khanasor. Many people had already gathered there to receive the body. Hundreds of people gathered in front of Bedel's house, where the religious rituals in preparation for his burial were taking place. Accompanied by the slogan "Martyrs are immortal", the coffin was taken to the cemetery in a large convoy of vehicles.

Thousands gathered at the Şehîd Berxwedan Cemetery to pay their last respects to Bedel. The funeral ceremony, which began with military honours for Bedel by the Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) and the Shengal Women's Units (YJŞ), was participated by representatives of the Autonomous Administration, Yazidi Women's Freedom Movement (TAJÊ), Yazidi Youth Union, Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party (PADÊ), Yazidi Security Forces (Êzîdxan Asayish), notables and religious leaders.

 

Speaking in the name of the YBŞ Command, Tirêj Şengalî highlighted Bedel’s struggle and said; “Martyr Merwan Bedel joined the ranks of resistance during the genocide to protect his society. He fought for the protection of Shengal and the Yazidi community. This martyrdom proves once again that there is no choice for the Yazidis other than organizing and defending themselves.”

Shengal Democratic Autonomous Assembly (MXDŞ) deputy co-chair Heso Brahîm remembered all the martyrs in the person of Bedel and offered his condolences to the Yazidi people.

Şemê Remo of TAJÊ held the Iraqi government directly responsible for the attack and condemned its friendship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

After the speeches, Bedel was laid to rest with the slogan “Şehîd namirin” [Martyrs are immortal].

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