Yazidi councils, parties call on international community to recognize AA, reject Şengal  agreement

The Council of Democratic Autonomous Administration in Şengal, the Yazidi Democracy and Freedom Party and the Council of Yazidis Abroad issued a written statement regarding the situation in Şengal and the efforts of the Democratic Party to end the Autonomous Administration and control of Şengal again.

The statement first touched upon what Şengal people were subject to at the hands of ISIS mercenaries in 2014: "The situation of the people in Şengal is well known. In 2014, ISIS attacked us after the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army left us defenseless. ISIS committed genocide against us. Had it not been for the intervention of the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), ISIS would have eradicated our old entrenched culture in Mesopotamia altogether. But despite that we did not leave. Those who were able to defend themselves joined YPG that provided weapons, and so we formed our own units; Şengal Protection Units and Women Units in Şengal. Day after day, we dismissed ISIS from the area and formed the Council of Şengal."

No troop will rule us unless it is elected by Yazidis

The statement added: "But, who returned? In the years 2015/2016 the KDP forces returned. We consider this the last attempt to eliminate the independent will of the Yazidi people. After the genocide at the hands of ISIS, we will never be ruled by an external force unless it is elected by the Yazidis." Şengal Resistance Units and Women Units in Şengal will defend Şengal until the end.

The statement called on the United States, the European Union, the Iraqi government and all Kurdish parties "to take a clear stance, and exert great pressure on KDP to immediately stop its policies, attacks and blockade against Şengal."

The statement also indicated that KDP and Turkey continue their attacks on Şengal with the aim of "cleansing Şengal of the Yazidi people. The Democratic Party takes a hostile stance against us, as its forces attack Şengal directly, or they cooperate with Turkish intelligence by giving them information that enables Turkey to launch attacks."

The demands of the Yazidi people:

The statement included a number of demands directed at democratic public opinion, the United States, the United Nations, and all relevant organizations, namely:

Construction of a no-fly zone over Şengal.

Rejection of the Şengal agreement between the Iraqi government and the Democratic Party signed on October 6, 2020.

Recognition of the Civil, Political and Social Autonomous Administration in Şengal.

 Officially recognizing the Self-Defense Units in Şengal and Îzîd Xan Asayîş.

Holding accountable the perpetrators, instigators and supporters of the genocide committed against our people at the local and international levels, especially the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Turkey and the Islamic State (ISIS).

Providing material and financial support to rebuild Şengal.

EZIDI EXIL COUNCIL SINJAR (MŞD) CALL FOR ACTION NOVEMBER 2020 CALL FOR END OF ATTACKS AND BLOCKADE ON SINJAR ERBIL-BAGHDAD AGREEMENT IS AGAINST WILL OF SINJAR`S POPULATION

The situation of our people in Sinjar, Iraq, is well-known. In 2014 we were attacked by ISIS after the KDP Peshmerga and the Iraqi army left us defenseless. ISIS committed a genocide against our people. Without the YPG and the PKK, ISIS terrorists would have completely destroyed our ancient belief in Mesopotamia. However not all of us left. Those of us capable of defending themselves were equipped by the YPG and by other means available Thus we created our self-defense forces YBŞ and YJŞ (all-female units).

Step by step we drove ISIS out of the region and created our own Sinjar Council for those who returned. In 2015/16 the KDP Peshmerga returned. We consider this a final attempt to break the independent will of our Ezidi population. However after the genocide by ISIS we will not be dominated again by an outside force that we as Ezidis did not elect. The YBŞ and YJŞ will defend Sinjar until the end. This is why our self-protection forces YBŞ/YJŞ and our political administration, the Sinjar Council, call on the US, EU, the Iraqi government and all Kurdish parties take a clear stance and put serious public pressure on the KDP to stop its policy of attacks and blockade against Sinjar immediately. Attacks by KDP and Turkey Continue We reiterate that the claims made by Turkey and the KDP that the PKK is still in Sinjar are not true.

The PKK left Sinjar on April 1, 2018. Yet, we are very much aware of the fact that we owe our liVes to the YPG and PKK. The KDP and the Turkish state are not concerned with the PKK, but their goal is a cleansing policy against our Ezidi population in Sinjar. The KDP plays a crucial role in this hostile policy towards us. Either KDP`s military forces directly attack Sinjar or they collaborate with the Turkish secret service MIT and pass on information that makes regular Turkish air raids on Sinjar possible. The following list of some attacks in the past years underline the horrible consequences of the KDP collaboration with the Turkish state: - In March 2017 KDP-Peshmerga attacked YBŞ/YJŞ forces in the area Sinune and the city Khanesor.

 On April 25, 2017 a civilist was killed and by the KDP to prevent their return to Sinjar. The KDP does not allow aid to rebuild the areas that are protected by our own forces and governed by our own council. In March 2017, the KDP Peshmerga attacked our Ezidi self-defense forces YBŞ/YJŞ in the towns Sinune and Khanesor. Since then the KDP has been pursuing a cleansing policy together with the Turkish president Erdogan against the Ezidis in Sinjar.

They refused to accept the political structures and self-defense forces we had created. Their goal before and since then has been to dominate, not to liberate us. - On August 15, 2018, several YBŞ members, including the commander Zeki Şengalî, were killed by a Turkish air raid Sinjar.

KDP Hinders Population From Returning

There are still about 300.000 Ezidi refugees in South Kurdistan, tens of thousands in European countries and thousands more in Rojava. We want all of them to have the chance to return to their villages and cities in Sinjar. Yet, not only the constant attacks represent a great obstacle for their return. Right after we defeated ISIS in Sinjar and established security again, the KDP began to hinder Ezidi refugees from returning to Sinjar. On December 6, and the KDP checkpoints on the road to Sinjar make it impossible for many families to fulfill their dream of living in Sinjar again. Our people in Sinjar suffer from fear and psychological problems due to the Turkish air strikes. Many Ezidi women have had miscarriages as a result of air strikes.

 Over 100 school children suffer from psychological problems. An Ezidi family trying to return to Sinjar YBŞ/YJŞ members. One of them was heavily wounded and passed away on November 23, 2019. - On January 15, 2020, four YBŞ members, Zerdeşt Şengalî, Hemîd Şengalî, Şervan Cîlo and Êzdîn Şengalî, were killed during a Turkish air raid on the village Digurê. - On June 14, 2020, six air attacks by the Turkish army injured four YBŞ/YJŞ members. - On November 8, 2020 a civilist was killed by a Turkish air attack in the village Xelef (Khalaf). We could add many more attacks by KDP forces and the Turkish army that happened after we pushed out IS from Sinjar with the help of the YPG and PKK. These attacks cause great damage not only to the livelihoods of our population but also keep hundreds of thousands of Ezidis from returning to their homes. The YBŞ/YJŞ and our Sinjar Council have repeatedly put forward proposals for negotiations with the KDP Peshmerga in 2017 and 2018 but these proposals for talksthey were ignored. This is yet another proof for the fact that it is Barzani`s and Erdogan`s goal to subjugate the Ezidis at all costs. The attempts by the KDP and Erdogan to oppress us demonstrate very clearly that we need to have some form of self-governance and political empowerment. We also need to be able to guarantee our own security. If there is no political empowerment and no security, we cannot stay in Iraq

 - On November 4, 2019, three members of the YBŞ/ YJŞ were injured by a Turkish air strike. - On November 19, 2019, a Turkish air raid wounded five very well aware of the fact that thousands more are still desperately waiting for a chance to resettle in their villages. Yet, the constant air attacks carried out with the help of KDP informants 2016, Human Rights Watch published a report on the KDP policy in Sinjar. In this report it is stated that “disproportionate restrictions on the movement of goods into and out of the district of Sinjar” were implemented. The HRW-report also shows how “restrictions disproportionate to any possible security considerations are causing unnecessary harm to people’s access to food, water, livelihoods, and other fundamental rights”. This KDP policy of keeping the Ezidi population of Sinjar from returning still continues. Although many families have been able to return in the course of this year, we are our political and military institutions in Sinjar were included in the negotiations. Erbil and Baghdad intend to replace all our institutions that guarantee the implementation of our will and the security of our people. We will never accept any agreements on Sinjar that do not include our representatives and thus disregard the will of Sinjar`s population. Since the genocide of 2014 we have not received any international financial support. The money that was given in support for the Ezidis to the administrations in Erbil and Baghdad did not reach us. All the funding that was donated to us so far was given to us by our Ezidi population in the diaspora. Therefore, we once again invite the UN, EU, USA and all other democratic institutions to come to Sinjar to asses our current situation and offer material and financial support. With their help we will be able to build the infrastructure so desperately needed by our population. Requests of Sinjar`s Population We as Ezidis need a secure future, a homeland in which we can have a say and in whose security we can trust. We therefore call on the democratic public, the USA, UN, EU and all relevant international organizations to: 1. install a no-fly-zone over Sinjar; 2. protest against the agreement of October 9, 2020 between the KDP and the Iraqi government; 3. to recognize the social, political and democratic self-administration council in Sinjar; 4. to officiall recognize the Ezidi self-defense units YBŞ and YJŞ and the `Ezidxan Asayîş` as our security forces; 5. to prosecute the perpetrators, instigators, assistants and supporters of the genocide/femicide commited against our population nationally and internationally, in particular the KDP, Turkey and IS; 6. to offer material and fincancial support for the reconstruction of Sinjar. MXDS (Demokratin Self-Government Council of Sinjar) PADE (Party for Democracy and Freedom of the Ezidis) MŞD (Ezidi Exil Council Sinjar) …..

ANHA