ŞÊRÎN ELÎ

Shahba- Yazidism, the oldest religion in the world, has been subjected to 74 edicts until now and Yazidis have faced tortures, atrocities, and genocidal attacks throughout history. Turkey and Turkish-backed factions have been carrying out inhuman practices in Afrin since its occupation. Suad Hiso, Spokesperson of the Yazidi Women's Union in NE Syria, spoke to NuJINHA about the genocide committed against Yazidis.

“They want to annihilate the Yazidi people”

Stating that the Yazidi people have been subjected to torture and genocidal attacks throughout history, Suad Hiso said, “Until now, not only Yazidi women but also the Yazidi community have been subjected to violence and genocide. The enemy often tries to annihilate the Yazidis by carrying out new genocidal attacks. We strongly condemn the violence and inhumane practices against the Yazidi people in Shengal, the occupied areas, and Afrin. The Yazidi community is always targeted and no state supports us. The aim of the occupying Turkish state and the Iraqi government is to divide the people by building the wall of shame between Shengal and Rojava.”

“Assimilation policies are being carried out”

Emphasizing that many policies of assimilation and annihilation have been carried out against the Yazidi people throughout history, Suad Hiso stated, “Fighters achieved a victory against ISIS attacking Shengal. 74 edicts have been carried out against the Yazidis until now. Despite the genocide, violence, and inhuman practices against them, the Yazidi people still protect their beliefs, culture, language, and values. The Yazidis living in Afrin are subjected to violence every day. The factions of the Turkish state destroy holy places of Yazidis and build mosques and assimilation policies are carried out in these mosques.”

“One religion is imposed”

Drawing attention to the inhuman practices against the Yazidis living in Afrin, Suad Hiso stated that the Turkish state and its allies try to change the demographic structure of Afrin. “Afrin was the house of the people from many nations and religions. But the armed groups try to impose one religion on the people,” she said that the Yazidis living in Afrin cannot celebrate the ‘Çarşema Sor’ festival in the city. “We want to return to Afrin, and live in our homeland. They want to destroy the sacred belief that has protected us from violence for thousands of years. We wish a happy Çarşema Sor to all Kurds and people living in Kurdistan and especially to Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan,” she told us.

“We can defeat the enemy by uniting”

Speaking about the ongoing Turkish attacks, Suad Hiso said, “When the Turkish state launches an attack, it directly targets the tradition and culture of the region. The Yazidi people are always subjected to attacks and massacres and the international community does not see this reality. The aim of the Iraqi government is to evacuate the people from Shengal and deploy its army, consisting of many different armed groups. When ISIS attacked Shengal, they abducted 3,000 Yazidi women and the fate of many is still unknown. But we can defeat the enemy by uniting forces.”