Leader Ocalan’s message to Educational Conference of Shengal

Leader Abdullah Ocalan sent a special message to the Shengal Educational Conference, in which he said: "First of all, I greet you on behalf of my comrades here, and I wish you success in your work.

History does not only speak of the past; the pain that has been experienced also encompasses resistance and truth. The Yazidi people are among the most ancient and honorable bearers of this truth.

The Yazidis, adherents of one of the earliest faiths in Mesopotamia, have maintained their existence for thousands of years despite pressure, forced displacement, marginalization, and oppression.

Yazidism is more than just a belief or tradition; it is based on a peaceful life in harmony with nature and the sanctity of souls. That is why oppressive regimes have always seen the Yazidis as a threat to their existence, because they have preserved the traces of a free and equal life to this day.

The Yazidis did not retreat when faced with injustice; instead, they leaned on the mountains of Kurdistan and embraced their history and their belief in freedom. Attempts were made to ban their religion and language, yet they kept their culture alive and were reborn from their ashes when others sought to annihilate them.

Yazidi women have been the leading pioneers of this struggle. They became targets of the most brutal attacks, but they never surrendered. Through their resistance in Shengal, they established the hope of a dignified life anew for themselves and for all peoples.

Today, the struggle of the Yazidis illuminates the path for all of us. Their voice is the voice of those who demand freedom. Therefore, protecting the Yazidi people based on the principle of self-defense is an act of embracing humanity’s conscience.

It is the natural right of the Yazidis to build a system for themselves so they can live freely with their identity and religion. However, repressive states and narrow-minded nationalist ideologies do not recognize this right. This can only be achieved through a system where they can govern themselves based on equality and the fraternity of peoples.

Everyone must know that the Yazidi people are not alone. Despite all the pain caused by the 73 genocides, they have survived through resistance until today. With the peace process and the democratic society we are developing, no more massacres will be committed against them. The era of massacres has ended. Their existence is a matter of dignity for all who seek peace and brotherhood on this land."

A-H 

ANHA