A delegation including Shengal Women’s Units (YJS) fighters headed out to the Autonomous Administration zones from Shengal to attend a workshop in Rojava on the anniversary of the Shengal Massacre with the motto “Defending Shengal women’s honor is to defend the existence of women”.

The workshop will be held on August 3, the anniversary of the massacre. Participant and Shengal Women’s Movement member Ehlam Heci spoke to ANHA about the anniversary of the massacre and Shengal women’s organizations. Ehlam said there have been many massacres against Yazidis in the past, and they witnessed the latest massacre by ISIS. Ehlam said thousands of Yazidis were killed, and abducted women and children were sold in slave markets.

“PESHMERGA AND IRAQI FORCES DIDN’T PROTECT US”

Ehlam Heci said the peshmerga forces and Iraqi government didn’t protect them when the gangs attacked:

“Both forces threw us to the gangs. It was only the HPG who responded to the people’s call and came to Shengal. They took thousands of Yazidi families to safe areas. YPG and YPJ opened a humanitarian corridor in Rojava to ensure safe passage for the Yazidi people.”

“WE ORGANIZED OURSELVES SO MASSACRES DON’T HAPPEN AGAIN”

Ehlam said Shengal was liberated by the efforts of YPG, YPJ and HPG forces: “We have since organized, especially in the military arena, so the Yazidi people won’t be subjected to massacres again,” said Ehlam and added that the women and children SDF rescued in operations in Northern and Eastern Syria were brought to Shengal and sent to Southern Kurdistan for treatment.

Ehlam said the KDP sent rescued Yazidis to Europe, in an attempt to divorce Shengal from its rightful owners.

“WE ORGANIZED SO THE SAME MASSACRES DON’T HAPPEN AGAIN”

YJS fighter Newal Raperin said they were happy to take part in the workshop in Northern and Eastern Syria for the women of Shengal. Newal said: “Northern and Eastern Syrian women have worked incredibly hard, and so we live without fear today.” Newal added: “YPG/YPJ and HPG rescued us from the massacre and then we organized ourselves and formed a military force so such massacres don’t happen again.”

Newal said the invading Turkish state’s threats against the Yazidi people continue still: “Turkey is the prime supporter of ISIS. We are prepared to defend our lands against Turkey’s threats.”