Following the Turkish state and their allied gangs’ attacks, Êzidî Kurds in Afrin are on the migration paths once again. There were 25.000 Êzidîs in 22 villages in Afrin, and those who migrated say they “can see Shengal before our eyes”, while those who stayed in the city are being forcibly converted to Islam.

Êzidîs have suffered 73 firmans (decree of genocide) throughout history, most of which were at the hands of the Ottomans, and are now targeted by the Turkish state in Afrin. The first massacre was enacted by Mosul Zengi Atabeyi Bedreddin Lulu in 1246, and the last was by the hands of ISIS on orders from the Neo-Ottoman AKP. In all the chain of massacres, Islam was used as the thrust force.

Êzidî Kurds call the genocides they have suffered firmans, and the latest firman was on August 3, 2014 in Shengal at the hands of ISIS over whom the Turkish state drafts their plans for the Middle East. The Ottoman successor Turkish state failed to destroy the Êzidîs by the hands of ISIS, due to the intervention by HPG and YJA-Star guerillas, and one of their targets in Afrin have been the few Êzidî Kurds in the city.

The Turkish state and the Islamist gangs that accompany them launched an invasion attack on January 20 against Afrin, and all 22 of the Êzidî villages were invaded, burned, destroyed and looted. These Êzidîs now live in the Shehba canton and the Sherawa district under harsh conditions. According to the Êzidî Association in Afrin, there were 25.000 Êzidî citizens in Afrin before the Turkish invasion attacks, but most have had to leave since.

“THE WORLD SHOULD NOT REMAIN SILENT”

An Êzidî citizen named Semîr Nasir who migrated from one of Afrin’s Êzidî villages, Feqîra, and lives in the Berxwedan Camp in Shehba now stated that they left their homes, villages and lands following the invasion attacks by the Turkish state and added that they don’t want to leave Afrin. Nasir said the Turkish state targets all Kurds and continued: “The Turkish state and the gangs with them are gathering the few remaining people from the villages and force them to go to mosques to forcibly convert them. The world should not remain silent in the face of this.

“I GOT OUT BY WALKING FOR HOURS”

72 year old Emer Berekatî stated that they had to migrate from the Feqîra village during the invasion attacks and that he left the village on foot, walking for hours despite his disabled foot. Berekatî said he left the village after the jets started bombing: “If it wasn’t for the jets, I wouldn’t have left my village. The bombs were falling even as we walked out. I walked for hours in my condition.”

“I CAN SEE SHENGAL BEFORE MY EYES”

Êzidî woman Fidan said she left her village of Kastel Cindo after Turkish jets started to constantly bomb it, and that she left Afrin on foot after staying in the city for a while. When asked why she left, Fidan said: “I left the village so our religion, our dignity would not get lost. I can see Shengal before my eyes. I have a young daughter. I had to leave our lands, thinking of her.”

“WE LEFT EVERYTHING BEHIND”

Êzidî woman Xatûn said she left the Feqîra village and is staying in the Babilnês village in Shehba’s Fafînê commune. Xatûn added that they left everything behind: “We are Êzidîs, we were afraid what happened in Shengal would happen again in Afrin. We can’t accept this. Now we are here. We left everything behind.”

“WHERE DID THE UN DIE?”

Êzidî Pir Hemîd Şêx Îsa stated that the Turkish state and Turkish President Erdoğan can never keep them from their path, and added: “We will never disperse throughout the world and just vanish, like he wants.” Îsa continued with criticism of the United Nations (UN): “I wonder, where did the United Nations die? Why do they play dead and are entirely silent in the face of this tyranny? This silence is the shame of the whole world. All my children are scattered to different places. We condemn the silence of the UN.”

FORCED TO CONVERT

Afrin Êzidî Association Co-Chair Suat Hiso stated that there are 22 Êzidî villages and there had been over 25.000 Êzidî citizens in the city before the invasion and that most of them have been forced to leave as the attacks began. Suad Hiso said there are still Êzidîs in some villages, and that they face oppression by the Turkish state and the gangs. Sûad Hiso said: “For instance, we received some new information today. In the Xezifa and Basûfanê villages, they forcibly gathered Êzidîs in the mosques and forced Islam on them.”

“WE ARE UNDER THREAT”

Sûad Hiso called on the international community to support the Êzidîs and stated that many Êzidî citizens have been captured by the Turkish army and their allied gangs. Sûad Hiso said: “Our Êzidî people today have taken to the migration routes once again. They want to repeat what happened to our people in Shengal in Afrin as well. We are scattered among all villages in Shehba. We are a population under threat. But despite all that, we won’t give up on Afrin to the last minute.”