Syria’s Yezidis send message to UN on 8th anniversary of Sinjar massacre
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, Union of Syrian Yezidis sent a message to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres through media on the 8th anniversary of Sinjar massacre.
This came during a march by Yezidis in the city of Qamishli on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the Sinjar (Shingal) massacre, which took place in the Yezidi-majority district of Sinjar in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), by the Islamic State Organization (ISIS).
The massacre which took place on August 3, 2014, resulted in the slaughtering of more than 50.000 Yezidis and the kidnapping of thousands, according to the UN.
The Yezidis demanded the return of their kidnappers, who are scattered in Syria, Turkey and Iraq, especially in areas held by Turkish-backed opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA).
They considered that the official recognition of what happened at that time as genocide is a “necessity”.
Additionally, they stressed that Turkey must stop targeting Sinjar and imposing a no-fly zone.
The Union pointed out that “It hopes that the UN to respond to its calls and to help the Yezidis, who have suffered of 73 fermans, in addition to dozens of fermans preserved in the Yezidi memory.”
The suffering of the Sinjar’s Yezidis has continued for eight years, where 2.800 people are still missing. This number includes large numbers of captive women and children who have been brainwashed and used in suicide operations, according to the message.
In their message, the Yezidis drew attention to the fact that all the areas they live in Syria have been subjected to the “Turkish occupation,” such as Afrin and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), and other areas that are under threat, such as Amuda.