NEWS CENTER - A protest action was held in Mektaba Sor, led by the Êzidî Women’s Support Group Foundation, due to the approaching seventh anniversary of the 74th Edict against Êzidîs.

It has been seven years since the 74th Edict against Êzidîs. ISIS took 6373 Êzidîs hostage, including 3504 women. There is still no information about the fate of more than 3000 people, mostly women and children. The scars of the war in Shengal are still very vivid. The edict turned into a wound and anger in the hearts of  Êzidî women. Towards August 3 in Shengal; Every place bearing the traces of the edict turns into a place of action, mourning for the thousands of Êzidîs who were massacred and still held captive by ISIS. Under the leading of women, protests began in Shengal demanding the results of the edict and demanding the world, whose humanity was put to the test at the time of the edict, to take action for the rescue of thousands of Êzidîs still held captive by ISIS.

According to the news of NuJINHA, under the leading of the Êzidî Women's Support Group Foundation, a protest action was held in Mektaba Sor, located in the center of Shengal and where ISIS gathered thousands of Êzidî women on the day of the edict. During the action, a statement written in Arabic on behalf of the Êzidî Women's Support Group Foundation was read. Riham Hesen, board member of the Êzidî Women's Support Group Foundation, read the statement.

In the statement, it was emphasized that no news has been received from the captives held by ISIS and everyone, especially the Iraqi government, is silent on this issue.

The fate of Êzidî women is unknown

Speaking to NuJINHA after the statement, Riham said: ‘’We have chosen this school specifically as the place for action. ISIS brought our women to this school and tortured them here. Here they separated men, women, children, and the elders from each other. We will turn these schools, which are the symbols of the edict, into areas of resistance and struggle. The edict has passed seven years, but we still do not know the fate of thousands of Êzidî people held hostage by ISIS, and the government does nothing about it. The Iraqi government signed the October 9 alliance, which is a continuation of the edict for us. The alliance was made by ignoring the will of the Êzidî people. There are no Êzidîs in the alliance. The Êzidîs have formed the will to make their own decisions. Especially women organized after the edict and are fighting. If there is to be an alliance, it must be done by recognizing the will of Êzidî women. No power that is the reason for the edict is accepted by the people of Shengal. We Êzidîs will never accept this alliance.’’

‘Let the world recognize the Democratic Autonomous Shengal system’

Reminding that the Belgian and Dutch parliaments decided to recognize the Êzidî Genocide, Riham said: ‘They say they accept the genocide, but they also want the October 9 alliance to be implemented. At that time, the decision they took is no different from the October 9 alliance, which is a continuation of the edict. This is an edict policy. If they want to do something against the edict, they should accept the will of the Êzidî society, especially the Êzidî women. Shengal established its system. And it can run itself. Let the world recognize the Democratic Autonomous Shengal system.’’

Commission suggestion to find missing Êzidîs

Noting that she is grateful to the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) that played a role in the rescue of thousands of Êzidî held hostage by ISIS, Riham said: ‘’The support of the SDF to the Êzidî community was very important and we are still in communication with the SDF. We are not hopeless in the rescue of our Êzidî people who are in the hands of ISIS and we will continue our search. In addition, the Iraqi government may establish a commission to find Êzidîs abducted by ISIS. We are making a commission suggestion to find the missing Êzidîs.’’