In commemoration of the 74th genocide against the Ezidian people we created a mural with a quote of Rêber APO, saying “The freedom of the Ezidis and the freedom of the people of the Middle East are intertwined”.
This is our statement:
On 3 August 2014, the Islamic State attacked the Shengal region and tried to eradicate one of the world’s oldest religious communities: the Ezidis. Thousands were murdered, hundreds of thousands displaced, and over 7,000 women and children were abducted, forcibly converted and sold as sex slaves. To this day, 2,700 remain missing. The Shengal massacre resulted in one of the most systematic and violent femicides in history. Despite few weapons, the people faced down the heartless violence of IS and waged a strong resistance. It was primarily the women who organized themselves. With the defense of Shengal they saved countless lives and laid the ground for the declaration of the Ezidi self a administration in 2015.
The lesson from Shengal is clear: Only through self-organization, solidarity and radical resistance can we overcome patriarchal violence and oppression. Only with the self-defense of all peoples in the Middle East can we end the massacres and bring peace and democracy.
