‘Sinjar attacked by ISIS on the one side, by Turkey on the other’

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MPs Hüda Kaya, Feleknas Uca, Murat Çepni and Hasan Özgüneş paid a visit to the Sinjar (Shingal) region in north of Iraq, which has frequently making news due to the allegations that residential areas of civilians are being bombed there.

Listening to the problems and requests of the locals during their visit, the HDP delegation has prepared a report upon their return to Turkey.

The report was shared with the public at a press conference held at the HDP Central Office in Ankara yesterday (February 16).

In their report, the HDP delegation has shared their observations and impressions from the region, conveyed the requests of the people of Sinjar and raised concerns about their problems.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, HDP İzmir MP Murat Çepni said, "The most striking fact that we encountered there was that Turkey's fight against ISIS is a big lie and that the international community falls short in the face of this critical matter."

Murat Çepni indicated that "Turkey is the country from which ISIS gets and gathers strength and logistics the most," underlining that there is a wish "to destroy the gains achieved by Kurds in the region."

Referring to some recent incidents, he said that ISIS has started carrying out attacks again. The MP noted that there is "silence in the face of ISIS attacks." Recalling that 121 people had lost their lives in the latest prison attacks of ISIS in North Syria's Rojava, Murat Çepni said that the airstrikes against the people of Sinjar should be brought to an end immediately.

'Turkey's intelligence calls, threatens people'

Çepni shared the following notes from their visit:

"200 thousand people live in Sinjar. Just as many people have migrated to different countries including Australia, the US and Canada. Some of them are compelled to live in the camps affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) under the supervision of the United Nations (UN).

"There are 13 camps in total. According to the statement of people of Sinjar, people are prevented from leaving the camps and they are subjected to policies of intensive religious and cultural assimilation. It is made harder for families to reunite; families have been torn up.

"One of the most striking information reported to us during our talks was that people are called by phone in the name of [Turkey's] National Intelligence Organization (MİT), they are forced to work as agents and they are told that they will be killed if they do not do it.

"Another important information that we have obtained is that even though the Sinjar Defense Forces are considered to be 'terrorists' by Turkey, they are recognized as an official force as the 80th Brigade and their all needs and equipment were met and provided by the state.

'People have to exercise self-defense'

"The people of Sinjar, whom the Iraq Government and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government have failed to protect from ISIS attacks, have had to form their own self-defense in order to be protected from a potential ISIS attacks and to not be subjected to another massacre."

Çepni also listed the attacks carried out against Sincar:

>> On August 16, 2021, an official meeting was held between Prime Minister of Iraq Al-Kadhimi and the Sinjar Autonomous Administration. After the preliminary talks, on the way to the meeting with a delegation including PM Al-Kadhimi, the delegation going to the meeting on behalf of the people of Sinjar was hit by the air forces of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF). Said Hesen, who was responsible for the delegation, and his driver were killed.

>> On August 17, 2021, the hospital in Skeniye village was bombed at noon. 4 health workers and 4 security personnel, Êzidî and Arab, lost their lives.

>> In December, the vehicle of Sinjar Democratic Administration Co-Chair Mervan Bedel, was bombed near his house at the city center. Bedel lost his life. His two children in the vehicle were wounded.

>> Xanesor People's Assembly was bombed on December 11, 2021.

>> 21 places were bombed for hours on the night of February 1-2, 2022. Among the bombed places was also the Çilmere region, which is deemed sacred by Êzidîs. Three people lost their lives in these attacks.

Against this background, HDP MP Murat Çepni said:

In conclusion, in all attacks against Sinjar, civilians lose their lives and people come to harm. On the one side, Êzidîs try to live under ISIS threat; on the other side, they are subjected to Turkey's bombardments. A life without Êzidîs is being imposed. The massacres that could not be achieved by edicts are attempted to be carried out through politics and dirty deals.

Requests of people of Sinjar

Çepni listed the requests of people as follows:

• The people of Sinjar want a ban on the flight of warplanes and armed drones over Sinjar.
• The call of Sinjar to the entire world is that they take action so that this atrocity comes to an end.
• Living under bombs and blockade, the people of Sinjar expect support from Turkey and all peoples of the world.
• They call on the democracy forces, women's organizations, political parties, democratic mass organizations, ecology organizations, intellectuals and artists to visit Sinjar.
• The people of Sinjar request that the Êzidî genocide be recognized by all states.
• They request that international powers, especially the UN, speak about the situation and take initiatives to prevent the attacks.

(HA/SD)