Victims of Shengal massacre commemorated throughout North and East Syria

Today, several councils and civil organizations and institutions of North and East Syria released several statements in commemoration of the Shengal Massacre carried out by the ISIS mercenaries against the Yezidis in Shengal. Through these statements, they condemned the attack of ISIS on Shengal, the continuation of the policies of the Turkish occupation state and the KDP against the Yezidis in Shengal.

Hundreds of residents, families of the martyrs, members of civil and military institutions were present during the presentation of the statements.

HASSAKEH CANTON

Dirbasiye and Shadadi

The district councils of Dirbesiye and Shadadi gave a joint statement. In the statement it was pointed out that the international community are responsible for the massacres carried out by ISIS and the acts of genocide against the people by the Turkish occupation state.

The statement read: “The Shengal Massacre is a crime against humanity. Thousands of children, women and elderly were killed at the hands of ISIS and were hidden in mass graves.”

Calls were made for the UN National Security Council and legal instituttions to protect minorities from massacres and genocides and demographic change.

Tel Tamir

Tel Tamir District Council marked the anniversary. Ahmed Haydar, administration member of the Education Committee read a statement.

The statement condemned the massacre and called for the international community and legal institutions to immediately meet and prevent further such crimes and attacks against the region`s peoples from happening again.

QAMISHLO CANTON

Qamishlo 

Dozens of citizens from Qamishlo city, members of Mala Ezidiyan, representatives of political parties and members of TEV-DEM gathered at the March 12 Stadium in Qamishlo and marched towards the UNHCR office where they held a demonstration and read a statement. The statement called for the United Nations and the international community to support the Yezidis in order for a possible return of Yezidis who are held captive in Syria, Turkey, Iraq and regions under control of terrorist groups. The statement also demanded an official recognition of the Shengal genocide and that one must prevent the Turkish state from attacking Shengal. A demand was also made for the implementation of a no-fly zone for the airspace over Shengal and North and East Syria.

TIRBESPIYE AND ÇILAXA

The district council of Tirbespiye and Çilaxa condemned the Shengal massacre in their statements.

Their statements pointed out that a danger was posed to all Iraqis and the Yazidi community since the beginning when ISIS occupied Mosul. Instead of giving a strategic response, no precautionary measures were made and Shengal was left on its own.

They also said that building a Democratic Autonomous Administration is legitimate and called for the strengthening of this project and for all democratic forces to support this.

Girke Lege

A statement was also read out in front of Girke Lege District Council building. The statement pointed out that the Shengal massacre is a shame for all those forces who supposedly defend human rights. They called for the international community to support the Shengal administration in defending its components.

Tel Barak

In front of the building of the Tel Barak District Council, a statement was read out by the council`s co-chair, Mari Khidir. The statement commemorated the martyrs of the Shengal massacre. The statement called for human rights organizations and the international community to officially name this massacre as a genocide. They further called for the perpetrators to be brough to justice before the courts.

Tel Hamis

Tel Hamis District Council also released a statement. Deputy co-chair Amash Suleyman read the statement which pointed out that the mercenaries wanted to carry out genocide against the yezidi people with the help of Turkey, KDP and some other parties.

The statement called for the UN and the UN Security Council as well as the international community to officially recognize the Shengal genocide and further to officially recognize Shengal`s administration.

Derik

Several hundred members of the Derik District Council were gathered in commemoration of the Shengal massacre and came with a statement. It was pointed out that the Iraqi government and peshmerga forces from the KDP left the people of Shengal defenseless in the hands of ISIS. They praised HPG and YJA Star guerillas and their efforts in aiding the Yezidi people when they opened a corridor for givin them a safe passage into safe areas.

The silence of the international community and the United Nations towards the crimes of the Turkish state against the people of the region was condemned. The statement was concluded with a demand for a no-fly zone to be implemented over the airspace over Shengal and the regions of North and East Syria.

KOBANE

The Autonomous Administration of Euphrates Region released a statement commemorating the victims of the Shengal massacre.

It was pointed out in the statement that the forces that are occupying Kurdistan were delighted by this attack and wished for the gains made by the Kurdish people to be eradicated. The statement prasied HPG, YPG and YPJ`s efforts in their intervention when they opened a human corridor which rescued thousands of Yezidis and provided them a safe way out of Shengal. A demand was also made for the official recognition of the Shengal genocide

MANBIJ

In Manbij, the Martyr`s Families Council released a statement commemorating the Shengal massacre and called for the international community to initiate an investigation so that justice can be served for the victims of the massacre and to protect Shengal from all continuous threats and dangers.

The statement read: “We call on the international community to demand accountability from those responsible for this massacre and their supporters.”

It was also emphasized that the Iraqi and international parties should respect the values and will of the Yezidis in Shengal, protect their identity and history, and their ancient culture and support their autonomous administration so that they can protect themselves.

ANHA