August 3rd marks the anniversary of the Islamic State genocide against the Yazidi population in the region of Shengal. At that time tens of thousands of KDP peshmergas fled the region overnight and basically handed the defenceless population to the Islamic State.

With the help of a small group of fighters from the People's Defense Forces (HPG), a large part of the region's population was able to flee. Yet thousands were abducted or murdered. Thousands are still missing. The anniversary of the genocide is therefore both a day of remembrance and a day of protest. The largest Kurdish umbrella organization in Germany, KON-MED, calls on people to join the actions organised in many cities around the country.

The appeal said: “The Yazidi-Kurdish society has one of the oldest beliefs in Mesopotamia. A large number of massacres (Ferman) tried again and again to wipe them out. The last of these massacres began on 3 August 2014 with the ISIS attack. The Islamic State was unleashed like a curse on the peoples of the Middle East by capitalist modernity and its collaborator, the AKP regime. They attacked the Yazidi community in the cruellest way and forced innumerable people to leave their homeland.

The Yazidi-Kurdish society was viewed as a threat by every ruling power and was threatened with genocide with the 74th Ferman. Only seven years have passed since 3 August 2014, but AKP fascism is continuing its anti-Kurdish policies with practices that include air strikes on this suffering region. The people in Shengal oppose the blockade in the region, continue to resist and rebuild their lives.

The dreams of hundreds of our martyrs, Mam Zekî and Mam Beşîr included, are now being realized by the people of the Shengal region. In addition to building up a self-government from their own councils, building a new life, the Yazidi people have also built up their self-defense in the form of the defense forces YBŞ and YBŞ-Jin in order to never fall victim to such a crime again.”

KON-MED listed a series of demands:

“- The massacre of 3 August must be classified as genocide by the United Nations, the European Union and all democratic institutions and parliaments.

- The autonomy of the Yazidi region represents its self-defense. It must be recognized. Only in this way can the part of the Kurdish people most threatened by genocide and massacre be saved from the genocide threat. The recognition of the autonomy of Ezidxan is part of the recognition of the massacre of 3 August as genocide. The historical responsibility towards the Ezid: inside makes this indispensable.

As KON-MED, we see the liberation of Shengal not only as a victory for the Kurdish people, who live in four parts, but also for humanity, and we believe that mobilization must be carried out to protect them. With this in mind, we call on our people to take part in the commemorative events organised in many German cities.”

Demonstrations and events will take place in the following cities:

Hanover: demonstration, 5.30 p.m., Central Station

Walsrode: 6 p.m., town hall

Frankfurt: 6 p.m., Liebfrauenberg-Hauptwache

Giessen: 4.30 p.m., Berliner Platz

Mannheim: 6 p.m., Paradeplatz

Saarbrücken: 6 p.m., Europe Gallery

Darmstadt: 6 p.m., Luisenplatz

Hamburg: 11 a.m., Altona (Mercado)

Kiel: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Europaplatz

Berlin: 12 noon, Platz der Republik

Stuttgart: 6 p.m., Schlossplatz

Freiburg: 2 p.m. Rathausplatz, 5 p.m., Old Synagogue Square

Food: 6 p.m., Willy-Brandt-Platz

Wesel: 5 p.m., Berliner Tor

Dortmund: 6 p.m., Sparkasse Dortmund

Düsseldorf: 6 p.m., DGB building

Münster: 6 p.m., main station

Bern: 6 p.m., Bahnhofplatz

Geneva: 1 pm-5pm, UN building

Vienna: 2 p.m., Wipplingerstrasse

Bielefeld: 5 p.m., main station

Bremen: 7.30 p.m., main station

Achim: 5 p.m., town hall

Aurich: 2.30 p.m., Markt Platz

Krefeld: 11 a.m., Neumarkt

Nuremberg: 5 p.m., Hallplatz