Shingal – For Yazidi women, protecting Shingal represents a historical duty that transcends geography, as it is a symbol of identity and resilience. They also affirm that defending the Yazidi community is a continuous necessity to ensure that the tragedies the region has witnessed are not repeated.

The Yazidi Women’s Freedom Movement (TAJÊ) held its third conference yesterday, Monday, May 18, with the participation of 250 female delegates. The participants affirmed that the movement’s arrival at this historic stage of struggle came thanks to the ideas of leader Öcalan and the sacrifices of martyrs.

 

Hajar Ahmed, one of the participants from Makhmur, said at the conference: "We congratulate the convening of the third conference of the Yazidi Women's Freedom Movement to our leaders and to the women fighters who have stood firm on the mountain peaks for fifty years. We also congratulate the mothers of Makhmur and Shingal. This is my first visit to Shingal, and it has always been my dream to reach this sacred land and get to know our Yazidi community up close."

She explained that "the suffering of Yazidi women is the suffering of all of us. Due to the difficulty of travel between Makhmur and Shingal, we are no longer able to reach it, but we hope this problem will be resolved soon. This conference is very important to us, and the women of Makhmur send all their greetings and love to their Yazidi sisters."

She pointed out that "when we speak of ourselves, we remember the Yazidi women – the pain is one. We do not forget the elderly women, the young girls, nor the boys and girls who were killed or kidnapped in the events of August 3, 2014. We bow in reverence to the martyrs of Shingal who defended it with their blood and protected it. When we mention Shingal, we evoke the four parts of Kurdistan. We promise you to support Shingal, and we are confident that it will not accept the surrender of traitors. Shingal will remain steadfast and resistant. We wish success to all the women of the world, especially the women of Shingal."

"All women must be organized"

 

Regarding the importance, objectives, and implications of the conference, Dalal Rafo, spokesperson for the Women's Commune in the Sinon sub‑district, affirmed that the conference was successful by all standards, and that given the major developments in the region, the convening of this conference acquires special importance. "After the 74th massacre in 2014, we no longer fear anyone, and no force is capable of stopping our struggle. The task entrusted to us is a great and historic one. Our primary goal is to organize every woman, build mechanisms for knowledge and self‑defense, and advance the quest for freedom so that our community is not subjected to a similar massacre again."

She added: "As the Yazidi Women's Freedom Movement, we always adhere to our duty and responsibility. This conference carried strong and important messages and reaffirmed leader Öcalan's vision for our struggle path. Our goal is for us Yazidi women to continue the struggle by all available means."

She pointed out that with this spirit, women will continue to defend their rights against injustice and enslavement. "We will protect our community from all forms of attacks and genocide, and we will stand by every woman wherever she is. Together, we will build a just, strong, and successful society."

"We came to the conference dressed in white"

For her part, Neema Khalif congratulated all Yazidi women on the occasion of the conference and said: "I am very happy to participate in this conference, which is of great importance to all of us. As Yazidi women and guests coming from abroad, we gather today dressed in white, and we participate in our traditional clothing, which identifies us and reflects our identity. No conference of this kind was held before the 2014 massacre, and today we continue this path with steadfastness and will resist until the end."