The Sinjar Autonomous Council announced the final declaration of its annual meeting on 16 April and stated they would continue resisting until the status of Sinjar is recognised.
The council claimed that colonialist states triggered wars in favour of their interests in the Middle East and no steps were taken to benefit civilians. The council also drew attention to the fact that changing the administration of a state does not mean the policies will also change.
On the agreement signed between Iraqi Kurdistan and Iraq’s central government, the council highlighted the angry reactions of communities in Sinjar and said their message was clear.
The council also announced the end of the vigil action in support of the Yazidi Asayish (public security forces), which lasted for 138 days. The vigil tent will remain open, however.
The council emphasised in its declaration that its struggle would continue until the status of the Sinjar Autonomous Administration was recognised.
What happened?
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) targeted the Sinjar region after they took over the city of Mosul in Iraq in 2014.
When ISIS attacked Sinjar and the Yazidi population, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and its Peshmerga forces left the area, though the KDP administration promised to ensure the security of the Yazidi people. The Iraqi government also left the area.
The Yazidis fought against ISIS with the help of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and organised self-defence forces. After the liberation of Sinjar, the Yazidi population also organised its own autonomous administration.
However, the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government signed an agreement on 9 October 2020 which ignores the will of Sinjar’s population and aims to remove the Yazidi Asayish.
