The Êzidxan Youth Union’s 3rd Conference, held in the Digûr district of Sinjar (Şengal), saw a significant gathering of hundreds of Yazidi, Arab and Turkmen youth. The central theme of the conference, to secure freedom for Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan and guarantee autonomy for the Iraqi Kurdistan district, resonated strongly among the attendees from Sinjar and Mosul.
At this pivotal event on Friday, participants resolved to campaign for the liberation of Abdullah Öcalan. The conference concluded with a resolute statement, read by Zêdan Şengali, a member of the Êzidxan Youth Union, demanding Öcalan’s release.
The union emphasised how Öcalan’s ideas and philosophy has influenced and revitalised the Yazidi community. The young delegates rejected the policy of isolation imposed on Öcalan by the Turkish government and vowed to hold to account those responsible for the inhumane act.
“The genocidal Turkish state, an enemy of our roots, can no longer stop our march for freedom,” the statement affirmed, demonstrating a strong sentiment against perceived oppression. The youth pledged to reach their goals through decisive and determined action inspired by Öcalan’s ideology.
The focus of the conference extended beyond a call for Öcalan’s freedom, to the establishment of autonomy in Sinjar. This reflects a broader aspiration for self-governance and recognition of the region’s distinct cultural and political identity.