Despite Turkish attacks... return to Shengal continues

Many families from Shengal have returned to their homes from the camps of Başûr (Southern Kurdistan), in the continuation of the return that began towards Shengal since June of last year.

27 August, 2021 23:11

SHENGAL

On August 3, 2014, ISIS mercenaries launched a brutal attack on the Shengal district of Southern Kurdistan, and massacred thousands of Yazidis, and kidnapped thousands, most of them were women.

The attack of ISIS mercenaries caused the displacement of tens of thousands of Yazidi families towards Rojava and Southern Kurdistan areas after the camps were opened to receive them.

Many families preferred to return to Shengal rather than stay in the camps, while the Autonomous Administration of Shengal is working to receive the returnees and provide them with aid.

According to residents of Shengal district, 5 to 10 families return daily to the district from Southern Kurdistan camps, and settle in their villages in the north and south of Mount Shengal.

In the continuity of the Ferman, as described by the Yazidis, Turkey seeks to prevent the return and carry out continuous attacks on Shengal.

Shangal people who have returned to their homes in Khaneh Sor say they are happy to be back.

Fakir Elias, a resident of the district has returned to his home since September 2020, and in turn called on those who remained in the displacement camps to return to Shengal and rebuild Shengal again.

He continued, "When we see our people around the district and they have returned to it, we feel happy."

On August 16, the Turkish occupation warplanes targeted the car of the Shengal Resistance Units' commander, Saeed Hassan, in the old market in the center of Shengal city, which caused his death along with his nephew, the fighter in the units Issa Khodida. A day later, Al-Sakinah village's hospital was subjected to the Turkish bombardment which resulted in martyring 8 people including fighters and members of the health staff.

In a previous statement to ANHA, Spokesman for the Returnees' Reception Committee in Shengal Eido Shukr considered that the return of Yazidis to their homes in Shengal is the strongest reaction to Turkey’s attacks, thwarting them.

He added that Turkey follows the footsteps of its Ottoman ancestors, and commits massacres against Yazidis, noting that all Turkish arguments that legitimize its targeting of Shengal are incorrect, but it is afraid of the Yazidis' will and their organization, and wants to erase their history and culture.

D.H

ANHA