On March 18, 5 fighters from the Shengal Resistance Units (Yêkîneyên Parastina Şengalê-YBŞ) were ambushed by forces loyal to the Iraqi army. 5 YBŞ fighters were wounded in the ambush and detained by the army forces. Detained for 22 days by the Iraqi army, YBŞ fighters have not been released despite all calls and attempts. The Iraqi government's promise to the families that “we will release your children” has still not been fulfilled. The families wrote letters to 14 countries to demand the release of their children and called for their voices to be heard. 

 

The families of YBŞ fighters started a sit-in protest in front of the Iraqi Intelligence Center in the center of Shengal in order to be informed about the fate of their children. After 7 days of sit-in protest, the families stated that they will continue their protest until their children are released. 

 

Zozan Sîmo, the mother of detained YBŞ fighter Farid Revo, said that her children have been defending Iraqi lands for 11 years and they will continue their protests until they are released. Zozan Sîmo said, “We call on the Iraqi Minister of Justice to release our children. Let the world hear and know that these 5 people are 5 YBŞ members and they created and protected us from nothing. Yazidi children resisted and saved us from ISIS. We gave thousands of lives for this cause. Those children who are being held captive today walked in the footsteps of these lives.” 

 

'OUR ACTION WILL CONTINUE'

 

Zozan Sîmo said that they were able to sleep comfortably in their homes after the establishment of YBŞ and added, “Before that, we could not sit at home and sleep. Girls are still in the hands of ISIS and are sold in the markets. However, today there is the Êzidxan Asayish and it protects Iraqi territory. We were subjected to a decree, our houses were destroyed. Iraq should be helping us, but they are detaining our children who protect us. We do not want the Yazidi community to suffer. We don't want even a single person's finger to bleed. We want Shengal to be peaceful. We wish and hope that the Iraqi government will release our children without any problems. Even if no one supports us, we, as 5 mothers, will continue our sit-in until our children are released.”  

 

'AN ATTACK ON YBŞ IS AN ATTACK ON THE PEOPLE'

 

Farid Revo's sister Emîra Zozan said that the detention of 5 wounded YBŞ fighters was a scandalous decision and called on the Iraqi government to immediately abandon this decision. Emîra Zozan said, “Our protest here continues. The Iraqi government promised us but did not fulfill its promise. The 5 fighters should be protected not only by their families, but by everyone. Because they protected not only their families but also humanity. YBŞ is the people and the people are YBŞ. An attack on YBŞ is an attack on the people. In the coming days we have a holiday and we want our fighters to be among us. We call on the four parts of Kurdistan to protect these 5 fighters.”  

 

'IRAQ HAS NOT KEPT ITS PROMISE'

 

Neam Elyas, the mother of detained YBŞ member Ahmed Amin, reacted against the Baghdad government's failure to fulfill its promise to them and said, “We want to get information about our children. However, we have not received any news from our children for 22 days. As the mothers of 5 YBŞ fighters, we are in action. If there is a law, our children will be released. For 11 years our children have been defending the people against ISIS. Our Çarşema Serê Nîsanê holiday is approaching and we want our children to be released before the holiday.” 

 

ABOUT YBŞ

 

The YBŞ was founded in 2014 by the Yazidi community in Shengal for defense purposes. Founded after the 74th edict, YBŞ defended Shengal and Yazidis against ISIS. The YBŞ, which also fought in the liberation of Shengal from ISIS, consists entirely of the children of the Yazidi community. For 11 years, YBŞ has been defending Shengal against all threats of attack, and attacks by Iraq, ISIS and Turkey continue from time to time. 

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut