News Center- The Diplomacy Committee of the Yazidi Free Women's Movement (Kurdish: Tevgera Azadiya Jinên Êzîdî-TAJÊ) has sent an open letter to the countries officially recognizing the atrocity of ISIS against the Yazidi community on August 3, 2014 to mark the anniversary of the genocide.

Recalling that nine years have passed since the genocide, the letter said, “August 3 a very difficult and painful day for the Yazidi community, especially for Yazidi women.” The letter also mentioned how the KDP Peshmerga left the Yazidis alone. “The whereabouts of 3,000 Yazidis abducted by ISIS is still unknown.”

‘Concrete steps must be taken to prosecute ISIS members and their partners’

The letter indicated that the recognition of crimes against humanity committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community as a genocide by 13 countries is very important.

“Concrete steps must be taken to prosecute Daesh members and their partners. Many Daesh members have been prosecuted in European countries; however, the main issue is to determine the forces behind Daesh. All forces providing logistical, military, financial and political support to Daesh should be investigated and prosecuted for crimes against humanity at an international tribunal.”

‘The ongoing Turkish airstrikes pose a threat to security’

Emphasizing that although nine years have passed since the genocide, the real criminals are still not prosecuted, the letter said, “The impunity allows the criminals to keep committing crimes. The ongoing Turkish airstrikes show how the impunity allows the criminals to keep committing crimes. The ongoing Turkish airstrikes pose a threat to the security of Iraq and Shenagl (Sinjar).

“We believe that we can form a new system by raising awareness and strengthening our community. Everyone has the right to self-government, self-organization and self-defense. We need to form our own defense units to prevent more genocides from being committed against us.”

The letter also included demands on all countries and the international community. The demands are as follows:

“*All political organizations and countries should officially recognize the atrocity of ISIS against the Yazidi community as a genocide.

*All people and forces supporting ISIS to commit a genocide against the Yazidi community should be prosecuted. First of all, ISIS and its partners KDP and the Turkish state must be held accountable. The Kurdistan Regional Government must be held accountable for failing to protect the people of Shengal.

*On June 10, 2023, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) announced that they would prosecute foreign ISIS members. We express our support for this decision.

*The people of Shengal see the agreement signed by the Turkish state, KDP, and the Iraqi government on October 9, 2020, as a continuation of the genocide committed against the Yazidi community and the Yazidi people do not accept this agreement.

*The ongoing Turkish airstrikes on Shengal must be stopped.

*The rebuilding efforts of Shengal must be supported.

*More efforts must be made to rescue women and children held captive by ISIS.

*We support the efforts of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to rescue the Yazidis held captive by ISIS. We call on the international community to support the efforts of the SDF.”