Under the leadership of the Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe (TJK-E) and the Council of Yazidi Women's Assembly (SMJE), demonstrations will be held in many centres of Europe on 3 August with the slogan ‘Be the Voice of Self-Defence Against Femicide’.

The statement about the actions to be organized on the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide by ISIS in Shengal includes the following:

“As we approach the 3rd of August, we, the women's organisations in Europe, will once again take to the streets to protest against the 10th anniversary of the genocide of the Yazidi people that began with the ISIS invasion of Shengal (Sinjar) in 2014. We condemn a thousand times over this period of time, which is a continuation of the persecution, rape, enslavement and de-identification policies against the Yazidis.

In this massacre under the reign of the Islamic State, women in particular were subjected to great suffering. Thousands of young Yazidi women and children were kidnapped, sold in slave markets and sexually abused. Of the 3548 women taken captive, only 1207 have been rescued so far. While it is not known whether the missing women are still alive or not, the hope and struggle of their families to see them again has never been exhausted. The whole world considers this genocide, which has taken its place in our memories as a great shame of the century, as a genocide against women.

On the 10th anniversary of this atrocity, we stand shoulder to shoulder with people who are in solidarity in defence of justice, equality and freedom for the Yazidis and all other oppressed minorities. Since the genocide, we have witnessed the destruction of life, culture and society in Shengal. After the massacre, in which the leaders and important figures of the Yazidi people were targeted and killed, the Yazidis came together to build self-management and self-defence structures to protect themselves from another massacre. Despite this, their gains are facing a great threat.

The Turkish state and its allies signed an agreement on 09.10.2020 to destroy the self-administration and self-defence structures and to reintroduce systems of repression in Shengal. The autonomy of Shengal has been repeatedly targeted by the Turkish state with drones. The Turkish state, one of the biggest supporters of the Islamic State, does not hesitate to target civilians and children with drone strikes. We reiterate our claim and promise to realise a free and autonomous Êzidxan (Yazidi land), which is the longing of Mam Zeki Shengali, Berivan Shengali, Zerdeşt Shengali and Agit Civyan.

We are waging a war of existence again in the whole of Southern Kurdistan recently as a result of the betrayal of Barzani, who allowed the cross-border operations of the fascist Turkish state to invade all Kurdish lands in Southern Kurdistan. As we reject the mentality that wants to restrain our Kurdish people in our lands, no one should forget that we will protect our lands and the existence of our people with strong will against the fascist and treasonous mindsets that want to create a ground for a second Treaty of Lausanne. We will respond to the enemy by enhancing our self-defence and mobilization, forming mental nationality, developing our culture, language and history against occupation, genocide and massacres in our lands, and transforming the four parts into the spirit of Kurdistan. The events of 03.08.2014, when the Yazidi people could not trust anyone but themselves, when the KDP peshmerga and Iraqi militias affiliated to the Turkish government that had previously occupied Shengal abandoned their weapons and left during the ISIS invasion, are still etched on our memories.

Autonomy is therefore essential for the Yazidi people! We demand the recognition of the genocide that took place on 03/08/2014 and the establishment of an international tribunal to account for the crimes committed against the Yazidi community. It is crucial that ISIS and the Islamist militias responsible for the massacre and oppression of the Yazidi community withdraw from the camps (Hol) and face the consequences of their actions in their homeland in Europe. Air strikes on Shengal must be stopped to prevent further suffering and destruction.

On this basis, we call on all our people and friends, especially women, to participate in the actions to be held in many centres of Europe on 3 August under the leadership of TJK-E and SMJE under the slogan ‘Be the Voice of Self-Defence Against Femicide’."

PLACES AND TIMES OF THE ACTIONS

Events on 2 August

GERMANY

Bremen
Time: 15.00
Location: Am Marktplatz

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Helsingborg
Time: 17.00
Location: Gustav Adolfs Torg

Events on 3 August

BELGIUM

Liege
Time: 18.00
Location: In front of the station

AUSTRIA

Vienna
Time: 18.30
Location: Parliament

GERMANY

Saarbrucken
Time: 17.00
Location: Europa Galerie
***
Frankfurt
Time: 13.00
Location: Rathenau Platz
***
Leipzig
Time: 15.00
Location: Augustusplatz
***
Stuttgart
Time: 14.00
Location: Königstr./Ecke Marstallstr.
***
Düsseldorf
Time: 15.00
Location: Platz des Landtages 1/In front of the Parliament
***
Berlin
Time: 18.00
Location: Bebel Platz/ Unter der Linden
***
Hannover
Time: 12.00
Location: Steintor Platz/Am Steintor
***
Göttingen
Time: 12.00
Location: Gänseliesel
***
Kiel
Information stand
Time: 15.00-17.00
Location: Europaplatz
***
München
Time: 15.00
Location: Sendlinger Str. 8

SWITZERLAND

Zurich
Time: 16.30
Location: Helvetiaplatz
***
Lausanne
Time: 13.00
Location: Église Saint-Laurent

SCANDINAVIA

Stockholm
Time: 15.00
Location: Sergels Torg
***
Copenhagen
Time 13.00
Location: Gammeltorv
***
Oslo, Norway
Time: 15.00
Location: Tønsberg Torv

ENGLAND

London
Time: 17.00
Location: Trafalgar Square/WC2N 5DS

HOLLAND

Amsterdam
Time: 13.00
Location: Central- Station

FRANCE

Villers-le-bel and Drancy
Location: Villers-le-bel, in front of the station
Time: 18.00

Mantes-la-Jolie

Stand and leaflet distribution
Location: In front of the station
Time: 17.00

Marseille
Time: 10.00
Location: Cenieber