In a statement marking the 11th anniversary of the ISIS genocide against the Yazidi community in Shengal, the General Command of the People’s Defense Units (YPG) said the following:
On August 3, 2014, Shengal (Sinjar) became the site of one of the most heinous atrocities in modern history. The ISIS attacks on the Yazidi community resulted in the massacre of thousands of civilians, the abduction of countless women and children, and the devastation of an ancient community’s way of life. These attacks were not merely military assaults but a deliberate attempt to eradicate the Yazidi people’s existence, targeting their cultural, religious, and human diversity. The failure of responsible forces to protect the Yazidis deepened the scale of this tragedy, leaving the community vulnerable to unimaginable suffering.
In response, the YPG and YPJ, in coordination with Kurdish guerrilla forces, acted swiftly to open a humanitarian corridor in early August, rescuing thousands of Yazidis from the brutality of ISIS and averting an even greater catastrophe.
On the 11th anniversary of the Shengal genocide, the Yazidi community continues to grapple with ongoing security challenges and insufficient international support. Many remain displaced in camps, the fate of numerous abducted women and children is still unknown, and the lack of basic services hinders recovery. We emphasize that the protection and resolution of the Yazidi community’s challenges can only be achieved through the recognition of Shengal’s autonomous status. The international community, global institutions, and the Iraqi government must fulfill their responsibility to support this autonomy, as it is the only path to healing the Yazidi people’s long-standing wounds and addressing their community’s needs.
On this solemn anniversary, we honor the memory of the civilians and fighters who lost their lives resisting ISIS. As the People’s Defense Units (YPG), we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to defending the Yazidi people and all communities facing threats, standing resolutely against any force that endangers their freedom and dignity.”
Source: ANF News
