On August 3, 2014, ISIS assaulted Shengal, murdering Yazidis and kidnapping thousands of women and children. While the KDP-affiliated peshmerga retreated during the raids, Yazidis fleeing the attacks were safely evacuated from the region through the corridor created by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and ISIS was defeated. The KDP and the Iraqi government, which had abandoned the Yazidis to ISIS that same day, now began constructing a wall to cut off the connection between Shengal and Rojava. Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Batman Deputy Feleknas Uca spoke to MA regarding the measures conducted in accordance with the "Shengal Agreement" agreed between Hewlêr (Erbil) and Baghdad.

ATTEMPTS FOR INVASION

Uca stated that the wall being erected between Shengal and North-East Syria is designed to isolate the Yazidis and force them to face a new massacre. The HDP MP stated that the invasion effort was planned step by step as the people of Shengal began to rule themselves and that the plan was put into action, particularly with the "Shengal Agreement" made on October 9, 2020, between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Central Iraqi Government. They planned to evacuate Shengal with the 9 October Agreement, yet it did not work out and the Yazidis remained in Shengal. When Shengal was liberated from ISIS in 2017, people who had taken shelter in Bashur (South Kurdistan) returned to Shengal. After their return, the Turkish state increased its airstrikes on the city's centre. After 2017, there were attacks on Yazidi centres and even hospitals. This is how they began the October 9 agreement as well, which, however, failed.”

THE PLAN CAME TO NOUGHT THANKS TO THE PEOPLE OF SHENGAL

Uca emphasized that, despite the severe attacks and invasion plans, the people didn't run away from Shengal, but instead went on defence, saying, "The people did not abandon Shengal, they could not break the people's will. On the contrary, the people of Shengal revolted because of the agreement, and they refused it, stating ‘We are not leaving Shengal, and we will not allow you to carry out these plans.' This is how the October plan came to nought. They want to leave the region without the Yazidis."

THEY WANT TO DIVIDE US

Emphasizing that the Yazidis are faced with a new concept of attack with the wall-building policy, Uca continued, “As you are aware, a massacre was perpetrated on Shengal in 2014. With great difficulty, the People's Defense Units (YPG) and the people of Rojava opened a corridor from Shengal to Rojava. At a time when ISIS was carrying out massive attacks, the population and YPG members put up tremendous resistance. Many persons were killed in the attacks. Despite this, hundreds of thousands of Yazidis walked from Shengal to Rojava, while some crossed to Duhok via the Sêmelka border crossing. Hundreds of thousands of Yazidis were saved. Rojava defended the Yazidis on a significant extent. Yazidis were defended as the passageway opened, and thousands of Yazidi women were rescued from ISIS. Rojava's self-defence forces fought valiantly for Shengal. They are unable to separate Rojava from the Yazidis. Because the armies and people of Rojava heard the cry of the people and rushed to Shengal. What do they intend to accomplish with the wall policy today? They wanted to initiate a new attack on Shengal. They thought ‘Let’s force Yazidis out of Shengal, let them go to Europe. Maybe Europe could embrace them and they would leave Shengal.’ If a new massacre begins in South Kurdistan, the centre of Shengal will be one of its targets. Their goal is to make sure that Rojava does not come to help when they strike Shengal.”

SHENGAL TARGET OF KADHIMI

Pointing out that the developed wall policy was implemented by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Uca reminded Kadhimi’s words "We will bring ISIS from Iraq and house it in a camp near Shengal," as well as the commanders and administrators of Shengal who were slain as a result of the Iraqi Central Government's attacks. Uca emphasized that Kadhimi is at the forefront of every Shengal issue, saying, "While they could be dealing with the crises in Baghdad since Baghdad's president has not yet been elected, the government has not yet been formed, and there is a great economic and political crisis in Iraq, they are not interested in those problems. Shengal, on the other hand, is the most organized location with self-defence. That is why they are assaulting Shengal in order to eliminate that organization and its ability to defend itself. They are dealing with Shengal and attempting to upset Shengal's serenity and divide them. The concept of attack has spread throughout Bashur. Mahmur is one of them, while Shengal is the other. We can see that Rojava and Shengal are under constant attack. For what reason? They want to evacuate and destroy the area. That's why they designed the notion so that if Shengal is attacked again, no one will respond to Shengal's cries from this wall."

Uca pointed out that with the construction of the wall, the Yazidi Assembly of Shengal and the Arab villages made statements such as "It would break the alliance between Shengal and Rojava" and said, "The power of Rojava and Shengal is much greater than those walls. Everyone should know that.”

AGAINST ALLIANCE

Uca stated that the states of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey are all opposed to Kurdish unity and that the wall built between Rojava and Shengal today is also intended to disrupt Kurdish unity. She said, “Those who are hostile towards the Kurdish people prevent unity from being established. Whenever the Kurdish alliance is addressed, the practice of conflict and occupation is implemented.”

CALL FOR UNITY

Uca, who stated that the Kurds should ensure unity as soon as possible under the ongoing chaos and war conditions in the Middle East, continued: “Such a wall could not be built if the governments of South Kurdistan and Baghdad refused it. They believe that if they build the wall, they will be able to demonstrate their strength more effectively. Turkey is leading the way in wall politics. Turkey also constructed a wall between itself and Rojava. Today, forces such as Iraq are putting Turkey's principles into action. If we do not confront them now, the Kurds' gains will be lost. If Shengal and Rojava are lost, the Kurdistan Regional Government's status will be eliminated as well. All of this is for the loss of Kurdish achievements, because everything is linked together. Whatever one's political beliefs, it is vital to work together for the Kurdish people's achievements. It is important not to allow the attacks against Kurds to continue. We must not remain silent in the face of plunder and violence. We will not be able to create unity unless we all feel the agony of the children in Qamishlo, Rojava, Hewler, and Mahabad.”

RELATED NEWS: