The Shengal Women's Units (YJŞ), which together with the Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) form the defence of the self-administered region, issued a statement marking 3 August, the ninth anniversary of the beginning of the ISIS genocide against the Yazidi population of the Shengal (Sinjar) region of southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

The statement referred to the history of resistance of the Yazidis and remembered those killed in the 74th Ferman. Ferman is the term used by the Yazidis to describe the massacres and extermination operations in their history. The 74th Ferman is the ISIS genocide that began with the rout of the KDP peshmerga and the invasion of the self-proclaimed "Islamic State” in the region.

The YJŞ said: "Our martyrs are the foundation for a free life. They contributed significantly to the recognition of women's free will and became a light in the darkness of patriarchy. We will follow our martyrs, who deeply internalised the ideas and thoughts of Leader Abdullah Öcalan, until the end. We remember with respect and gratitude our comrades Deniz, Bêrîvan Seîd, Rusyar, Bêrîvan Arîn, Nûjîn and Şîlan Goyî, who participated in the liberation and struggle of Shengal and fell in different places, as well as Mam Zekî, Zerdeşt Seîd, Dijwar and Pîr Çeko, who fell after the liberation."

Referring to the importance of Abdullah Öcalan in the struggle against patriarchy, YJŞ stated: "Patriarchy could not realise its dreams of destroying the will of women thanks to the existence of Leader Öcalan. On this basis, the women of Êzdîxan (Yazidi land) founded the YJŞ and started their freedom march. This march has been growing every day for nine years.”

Regarding the role of the HPG and YJA Star guerrillas in the liberation of Shengal, YJŞ said: "The entire Yazidi community, especially the Yazidi women, were targeted by the states from the moment they recognised themselves and were subjected to all kinds of political, cultural and physical genocide. The fighters of Leader Öcalan came to our aid and made great sacrifices to protect the Yazidi people, their culture and their future. They liberated our land and handed it over to us."

The statement continued: "We have full confidence that we will move towards a life of dignity together with Leader Öcalan. The ruling powers are once again protecting the patriarchal system and preventing people from living a life of dignity and freedom. Leader Öcalan is held in severe isolation by the Turkish government. As YJŞ, we condemn his isolation and say 'Jin Jiyan Azadî with Rêber Öcalan'. On this basis, the HPG, YJA Star, YPG and YPJ put up unique resistance and paid a heavy price nine years ago when the Yazidis were subjected to genocide in Shengal. With their sacrifices, they will forever remain our pioneers.

ISIS was not an independent army. ISIS is the Turkish state, ISIS is the Taliban. ISIS attacked our Yazidi people with the sword of genocide. Once again, they wanted to silence the cries for freedom. But the aim of ISIS in this onslaught was not only physical genocide. The culture, religion, faith and way of life of the Yazidi people were also the target of this attack. They massacred our elders, who represented our living history to us, and buried them in mass graves. They abducted our children, who are our future, to indoctrinate them in Islam and make them forget their Yazidi faith. By abducting the girls and women, they attacked the values of women with their millennia-old rape culture. Besides torture, assault and rape, they also attacked our religion by trying to force conversion. Women ended their lives to protect their honour. Our society has seen all these facts.

The Turkish state played the father role in the founding of ISIS. It continues to play this role perfectly before the eyes of the whole world. The reality of hegemonic states was revealed in the war against ISIS. In contrast, our goal as YJŞ is to protect and preserve our roots through the self-defence force we have built. We have come a long way with this philosophy, because these days have been achieved throughout history with resistance and work, and won with blood. We have protected Shengal with this force and transformed the 74th Ferman into resistance, organisation and freedom. We owe this to the philosophy of Leader Öcalan and his fighters. We are aware that our people are intended to be forced to leave their country and migrate through different special war policies.

Western states, the Turkish state, the Iraqi government and the Barzanis signed an agreement in 2020, which they call the 9 October Agreement. Although with this agreement they are continuing the genocide by law, they should know very well that the Yazidis are no longer the same. The Yazidis now have defence forces and institutions like the YJŞ and the YBŞ. We, the YJŞ, claim our roots, do not give up our land and our homeland and we lead an honourable life with great struggle and resistance. The defence forces leading the Yazidi people taught us that society must not be defenceless. On this basis, we declared our autonomy and built our own forces.

As YJŞ, we declare that we will not forget the 74th Ferman. The revenge for the Ferman, the freedom of Leader Öcalan and the autonomy of Shengal will be ensured. With this conviction, we salute all the women who sacrificed their lives for freedom and who are walking the path of freedom. On the ninth anniversary of the genocide, we call upon women to take to the streets under the slogan: 'Revenge for genocide is possible through women's organisation and defence'. We must return to our country and keep alive and preserve our culture, religion and history."