The Democratic Unity Initiative issued a written statement on the anniversary of the genocide committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community in Shengal city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on August 3, 2014.
The Initiative pointed out that millions of people have been displaced, deprived of their homes and property, and hundreds of thousands have lost their lives as a result of the policies implemented in the region.
“One of the most targeted communities is undoubtedly the Yazidi people. Most recently, on August 3, 2014, more than 5,000 Yazidi Kurds, including men, women, and children, were massacred by ISIS in Shengal. Thousands of people were kidnapped, Yazidi women were sold as slaves in markets, thousands of people were displaced and forcibly expelled from their homeland. Unprecedented cruelty and oppression took place before the eyes of the whole world, but many states and institutions, especially regional states, remained silent. Amidst the silence of humanity, another dark page was added to the history of the Yazidis,” the statement said.
The Democratic Unity Initiative noted that the Syriacs and other communities also suffered great oppression and persecution due to ISIS attacks around Mosul, stating the following: “These attacks caused great harm to all peoples and led to a humanitarian disaster in the Middle East. 11 years have passed, but ISIS’ brutal attacks and the collaboration of certain states remain a dark chapter in humanity’s memory. The August 3, 2014 onslaught was recognized as ‘genocide’ by dozens of states and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Unfortunately, however, the attitudes and approaches of Middle Eastern states still fail to secure the political and cultural rights of the Yazidi people and other groups, and to take legal measures to this end. As a gesture of goodwill, the Yazidi Genocide should be recognized and acknowledged by all states where Yazidis live. Turkey can no longer turn a blind eye to the Yazidi reality in Shengal. The key to a new beginning is undoubtedly the recognition of the Yazidi Genocide.”
The statement concluded: “Even today, the Yazidis continue to fight relentlessly against dozens of sects to preserve their culture and language, leaving an indelible mark on human history. Ensuring the swift rescue of missing and captive Yazidi children and women is now a vital duty for all states and institutions. On the 11th anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide, we condemn the atrocities committed in Shengal a thousand times over. The massacre of our Yazidi brothers and sisters has not been forgotten and will never be forgotten. These events have shown that a better future is only possible through national unity. We reiterate our call for national unity and honor the memory of those who lost their lives.”
Source: ANF News
