104 Êzidîs were brutally murdered and buried in a mass grave by Daesh (ISIS). Those who were killed in the Kocho Massacre were buried the previous day with the participation of thousands of Êzidî. The Êzidî community demands other mass graves to be opened while Xoxê Cindî, a member of the Êzidî community spoke to our news agency. “Our hearts are burning, but we are strong. We were here, we are here and we will be here, they will not annihilate us by killing us!” said Xoxê Cindî.

NAZÊ SEÎD

Shengal – Daesh attacked Shengal on August 3, 2014, and killed more than 5000 Êzîdîs, including children, women, and elders. Thousands of Êzîdîs were abducted. 450,000 Êzîdîs managed to escape. 80 mass graves have been found in Shengal so far.

Funeral ceremony in Baghdad

Six years have passed since the massacre. Bodies of 104 male Êzidîs were discovered in mass graves in the village of Kocho near Shengal in April, 2019 and the bodies were sent to Baghdad, the capital of Iraq to find out their identities. Identification procedures in Baghdad were recently completed. The bodies were sent to their hometown, Shengal, to be buried at the Unknown Soldier memorial in Baghdad with an official ceremony attended by Iraqi President Barham Salih, Iraqi Prime Minister, ministers, and senior officials of the Iraqi Parliament.

Victims in their homeland again

Thousands of Êzidîs came together to bury those who lost their lives in the Kocho massacres. Şirîn Şengalî, from Sîba Şex Xidir village, was among the Êzidîs buried their relatives. She lost her brother. Şirîn had very difficult times talking to us. She took her seven-year- mourning with her. Şirîn was in black clothes and she described her pain, “Very hard”.

“Other mass graves should also be opened”

Şirîn lost her other family members. She took solace in finding the body of her brother but she demanded the other losses to be found, “Today is a difficult day for all humanity, and it is also difficult for us. All Êzidîs are here. But we still look for our loved ones. I hope to find them all one day and come together with them. There are mass graves that haven’t been opened yet; action should be taken for them, too.”

Şirîn called on all people all around the world from the ceremony held for 104 people who were killed and buried in mass graves by ISIS in the village of Koço; “This is our call to everyone who cares about human values, we demand them to support us to open other mass graves and to bury their bones according to our own beliefs.”

Composure…

People hardly remained standing during the funeral ceremony full of cries and mourning. In this atmosphere of grief and mourning, people had difficulties in speaking. Xoxê Cindî was one of those who maintained their composure. She spoke to our agency and she first thanked everyone who helped to find their disappearances and helped them to bury their loved ones in their land.

“We are all here today. Yes, we paid a lot. But everyone should know that they cannot annihilate us by killing us. There were those who turned their backs to us and told us, ‘We will not leave a single Êzîdî.’ If someone had stood by us when we took refuge in the mountains, maybe we would have gotten through this process with less loss. We were here, we are here and we will be here. Êzîdîs will exist forever. We have faced hundreds of edicts until now but we exist now and we will exist. Yes, we mourn for our loved ones. Our hearts are burning, but we are strong. We will support our children. We will not stop until bringing those who committed this massacre to account,” Xoxê Cindî said, “We ask everyone to stand by Shengal. They (Daesh) buried people alive. There are many other mass graves. These mass graves should be opened.”

What happened?

Kocho village is one of the villages attacked by Daesh onAugust 3, 2014. Daesh attacked the village and kept the village under siege for 12 days. Villagers refused Islam imposed by Daesh. In response, Daesh abducted girls and women; they killed older men and women and put them in mass graves. In Kosho village, 18 mass graves, bodies of 407 Êzîdîs, have been found until now.