AANES call to hold accountable those responsible for Shengal massacre

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria issued a statement to  the public opinion, in the memory of martyrs of  Shengal  massacre, and emphasizing the need to consider the thousands of those who have killed ISIS mercenaries as innocent victims who were subjected to genocide, also that Turkey played a major role in it.

The Autonomous Administration began its statement with "August 3rd marks the eighth anniversary of the Shengal  massacre committed by ISIS terrorist mercenaries, with the support of Turkey, and the aim of exterminating the Yazidis in a systematic continuation of the historical genocide against them and their identity and existence, the August 2014 genocide resulted in more than 5 thousands martyrs, and the number of mass graves that have been discovered so far has reached 83, in addition to dozens of individual graves, as well as more than 6417 kidnapped Yazidis, and there are still mass graves of unknown location.

And the statement added" in light of the suffering and during the establishment phase in Rojava – North and East Syria and the dangers that were besetting it, our nation performed their humanitarian moral and patriotic duty towards the Yazidis in that tragedy, Where the People's and Women's Protection Units "YPG - YPJ" opened a humanitarian corridor that contributed to saving thousands of Yazidis, and their exit from Shengal areas was secured to prevent them from being subjected to the oppression and injustice of ISIS mercenaries.

Autonomous Administration confirmed, "We in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, while we remember the martyrs of the Shengal massacre, call on our people to observe 5 minutes of silence at 10 o'clock in the morning on August 3 for the souls of the martyrs."

She also affirmed, "The accountability of those responsible for this heinous crime must take place, and that the victory over ISIS mercenaries on March 23, 2019 in the town of al-Baghoz by Syrian Democratic Forces is a large part of revenge for the lives of the victims who were martyred at the hands of ISIS."

Autonomous Administration appealed to human rights and international organizations to "consider what happened in Shengal as a "genocide", and to recognize it, while bringing to justice all the terrorist criminals who were involved in the genocide of our Yazidi people."

The Autonomous Administration statement called for "the need to respect the values and will of the Yezidi component in Shengal and preserve its identity and ancient cultural history," stressing that organization and self-defense is the best way to ensure that these massacres against Shengal and the Yazidis are not repeated, while insisting on what we have of our capabilities to support Shengal and its people to achieve their will and build their free society to ensure the protection of their identity and historical heritage.

The Autonomous Administration concluded its statement, "with the need to respect the will and decision of the Yazidis, with the need to consider the thousands of those who died at the hands of ISIS mercenaries as innocent victims who were subjected to genocide in which Turkey played the largest role, and that disrespecting the will and identity of the Yezidis in Shengal and not allowing them to organize themselves will be the beginning of a new genocide, like all the previous exterminations to which the Yezidis were subjected throughout history.

ANHA