HÊVÎDAR ŞENGALΠ

Shengal (Sinjar)- Yazidi women think the philosophy and ideology of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been subjected to an aggravated isolation in Imrali, is the way to freedom. Objecting to the isolation imposed on him, they say the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan is actually an isolation imposed on them. 

  Edûl Elî, member of the Yazidi Free Women's Movement (Kurdish: Tevgera Azadiya Jinên Êzîdî-TAJÊ), thinks the philosophy of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan empowers the Yazidi community. “Before we got to know leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan), we did not know what autonomous administration and self- organization and defense were. After getting to know his philosophy and ideology, we learned what they are and how they are important. We will never allow another genocide to be committed against our community. Thanks to the ideology of leader Apo, the Yazidi community makes progress. Leader Apo is our inner strength. Therefore, we, as the Yazidi community, are against the isolation imposed on him.” 

‘We will never accept the isolation’ 

Edûl Elî mentioned the genocide committed against the Yazidi community by ISIS and said, “The fighters, who believe in the ideology of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, protected us against ISIS. Only the fighters of leader Apo came and stood by the Yazidi community when ISIS attacked us. Therefore, we, as Yazidi women and the Yazidi community, will never accept the isolation imposed on him in Imrali. We will keep struggling until leader Apo regains his physical freedom.” 

‘We will never leave our homeland’ 

“As we learn the philosophy of leader Apo more, we become stronger,” said Edûl Elî, adding, “We see leader Apo as a chance for us. Now, dirty plans are carried out about Shengal. However, these plans will fail. In Shengal, people from different nationalities and religions live together and make decisions together. We will keep struggling against those who want to occupy our homeland. We will never leave our homeland. We will never allow traitors and enemies to enter Shengal.” 

‘The struggle will bring the physical freedom of leader Apo with itself’ 

Nafiya Şengal, another member of the TAJÊ, also demands the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. “Leader Apo has been held behind bars because of his thoughts and ideology and because he has an alternative to the existing system. The struggle that started with tens of people has reached millions today. We believe that this struggle will bring the physical freedom of leader Apo with itself.”