Iraqi army forces tried to enter the village of Gir Zirk in Shengal on Tuesday evening, but the people of Shengal did not allow it.

The General Assembly of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) reacted to Baghdad's policy towards Shengal with a written statement.

The statement reads as follows: “The Baghdad government, once again, with the support of local forces, is imposing an anti-democratic policy that ignore the will of the people of Shengal who were subjected to genocide by terrorist forces. These terrorist forces tried to destroy the people of Shengal and their very existence in their land.

The Iraqi government tried to enter the village of Gir Zirk in Shengal on April 20 to impose a situation contrary to the hopes, will and freedom of the people there. We remind that while the YBŞ (People’s Defense Units) and Êzidxan Asayish forces resisted against ISIS terrorists, one of the largest terrorist organizations in the world, the Iraqi army was quickly defeated by ISIS and ISIS entered Iraqi cities within a few hours.

The PYD General Assembly rejects all policies aimed at destroying our people in Shengal. We see this initiative as the continuation of the conspiracy of some regional powers that aim at destroying the will of the Kurdish people and change their identity and existence. We state that we will stand by the people of Shengal and support them to the end with all our available means. The YBŞ is the only force that can protect these people.

We call on the Iraqi state to establish a dialogue with the people of Shengal and to respect the people's will, freedom, political representation and military forces."