CÎLAN ROJ

Shengal (Sinjar)- On August 4, 2014, ISIS started its genocidal attacks on Shengal. Shengal was liberated by freedom fighters on November 13, 2015, thanks to a great resistance. Following the liberation of Shengal from ISIS, many Yazidis returned to their homeland and rebuilt their lives with the paradigm of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.

- On June 10, 2014, ISIS attacked Mosul and took control of the city in one day without facing any response. After occupying Mosul, ISIS headed to Shengal on August 3, 2014. Before ISIS started its genocidal attacks on Shengal, 12,000 KDP and Iraqi soldiers had left Shengal, leaving the Yazidis alone. Due to the betrayal of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), ISIS killed thousands of Yazidis, abducted thousands of women and children and sold Yazidi women in slave markets.

The fighters of the HPG, YJA-STAR, YPJ and YPG went to Shengal and rescued thousands of Yazidis from genocide by opening a humanitarian corridor between Rojava and Shengal.

Yazidis formed their own defense forces

Yazidis formed their own militias- the Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) and the Shengal Women’s Units (YJŞ)- to liberate their hometown. The freedom fighters cleared Shengal of ISIS step by step. On November 13, 2015, the liberation of Shengal from ISIS was announced.

‘We did not think we could see Shengal again’

NuJINHA spoke to women, who witnessed the liberation of Shengal. “We did not think we could see Shengal again,” said Qîmet Xwedêda. “However, Shengal was liberated from ISIS thanks to the guerrillas. The guerrillas did everything to liberate Shengal. Many fighters were killed while fighting ISIS in Shengal.”

 ‘I ran barefoot to my house with happiness’

The number of freedom fighters in Shengal was few, Qîmet Xwedêda said. “The fighters and our children fought and liberated Shengal together. When I heard that Shengal was completely liberated from ISIS, I ran barefoot to my house in Xanesor with happiness.”

‘Yazidis must unite against the enemy’

Although 10 years have passed since the liberation of Shengal, dirty plans of Shengal continue, Qîmet Xwedêda told NuJINHA. “Yazidis in camps have not yet returned because of the dirty plans of the enemy. Yazidis must unite against the enemy.”

‘We felt happy and sad at the same time’

Pakîz Celal, member of the Council of Martyrs’ Families in Shengal, was in the village of Gohbal when she heard the liberation of Shengal. “We felt happy and sad at the same time because many of our people were killed while fighting ISIS. After the liberation of Shengal, we went there; we found the bones of people killed by ISIS.”

Pointing to the situation of women after the genocide, she said, “Yazidi women have educated themselves with the thoughts and philosophy of leader Apo. There is no difference between men and women.”

Pakîz Celal thinks that the genocide against the Yazidi community has not ended yet. “The Barzani family sold us on the day of the genocide and now they attack us by cooperating with the enemy.”