Shengal Êzidî Assembly administrators ended their hunger strike in Strasbourg, France after Öcalan was contacted, and continued their meetings in the European Parliament (EP) yesterday. In the EP Socialists and Democrats Group meeting, the establishing of a Shengal-Êzidî Friendship Group was announced.

The committee of Shengal Diaspora Assembly administrators Fikret Igrek, Peşimam Ekrem Deniz, Bozo Bacini, Bedirhan Kahraman and Beşir Êzîdî met with EP Socialists and Democrats Group Deputy Chair Josef Weidenholzer.

In the meeting, the committee gave information on the hunger strike carried out between August 23 and September 13 against the isolation of Öcalan and for the recognition of Shengal’s status. Demands regarding the recognition of Shengal’s status, YBŞ and YBJ’s acceptance as defense forces and tens of thousands of refugee Êzidîs returning to their lands were voiced again in the meeting.

SHENGAL-ÊZIDÎ FRIENDSHIP GROUP TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE EP

Socialists and Democrats Group Deputy Chair Josef Weidenholzer announced that several parties in the European Parliament had come to an agreement on establishing an Êzidî Friendship Group. Weidenholzer said the official announcement of the Friendship Group will be made on October 12.

SHENGAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVES TO BE INVITED

10 people from Shengal Diaspora Assembly administration and at least 2 administrators from the Shengal Constituent Assembly are expected to be invited to the announcement of the Êzidî Friendship Group. Weidenholzer said efforts continued for the invitation of the administrators coming from Shengal.

REPORT ON SHENGAL IN THE WORKS

Josef Weidenholzer said Shengal’s demand for status was legitimate in their view and promised that efforts to get this demand recognized will continue.

Weidenholzer said EP members are working on a report on the status and situation of Shengal and that the report will be ready by the end of the year.

MEETING WITH EP FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR BROK

As part of the EP visit, Shengal Diaspora Assembly administrators also met with Foreign Relations Committee Chair and German Christian Democrat Union Party (CDU) member Elmar Brok.

In the meeting, the Êzidî committee members pointed out the KDP’s pressure on Shengal and the autonomous administration and asked EP to stand against it.

EP Foreign Relations Committee Chair Elmar Brok advocated that the parties involved should reach an accord for the solution to the issues in Shengal and was seen reluctant to comment on the pressure KDP exerted.

Êzidî committee members reiterated that they acted positively for the solution of the problems, but KDP abandoned Shengal to the cruelty of ISIS in 2014. The committee members pointed out that the KDP exerted considerable pressure despite that.