As the KRG signed an agreement on 9 October with the Iraqi government to deploy 8,000 soldiers to Sinjar, Yazidi people living in the region strongly reacted by calling it an “occupation attempt”.
Tension in the region soared after the attempt to remove Yazidi Asayish Forces (YBS-Yazidi public security forces), formed by locals as part of their legitimate self-defence efforts.
Iraqi armed forces on 20 April attempted to enter the village of Gir Zerek in southwestern Sinjar. Villagers launched a sit-in protest to prevent entry.
Yazidi mothers stood their ground against columns of troops and military vehicles.
Daye (“mother”) Xoxê was one of the mothers leading the resistance.
“We are not in need of the Iraqi government’s help,” she said. “We don’t want them to enter our villages. ISIS comes, passes our borders, but the government would not stop them. Now they come to our towns and settle down here.”
Daye Xoxê expressed that Yazidi people neither have faith nor trust in the Iraqi government. “Nobody can enter our towns without the permission of the YBS or the people. Nobody can order the Iraqi government to enter our territories,” she said.
“Whoever builds alliances with Iraq on behalf of us is a traitor and not on the side of the Yazidi people. The Turkish state and the KDP should know that they will not succeed. Whoever betrays the Yazidi people in Sinjar will fail,” she added.
Daye Xoxê called on the world to support the Yazidi resistance in Sinjar against occupation and stressed that resisting Yazidis will continue to spread the truth internationally.
“We ask: where was the Iraq government when ISIS kidnapped thousands of Yazidi women? Where were they when 72 mass graves were built in Sinjar? We are sharing our truths with the international public,” she said.
