Since the beginning of the Peace and Democratic Society process, Abdullah Öcalan has sent three special messages to Shengal and the yazidi community. He has also made important evaluations regarding Shengal’s status and autonomy in various meetings. The yazidi community, in turn, has presented gifts to Abdullah Öcalan twice.
Most recently, during a meeting with his family, Abdullah Öcalan gave a pen as a gift to the Yazidi community and the Assyrian people. In a statement to ANF, Suham Shengali, Head of Foreign Relations for the Yazidi Women’s Freedom Movement (TAJÊ), said: “In every meeting held with Leader Apo, importance was given to the yazidi community, and the Yazidis became part of the process.”
The Yazidis must assume responsibility for the process better than anyone
Suham Shengali said that the yazidi community’s and especially yazidi women’s appreciation for Öcalan’s gifts and messages, and added: “From the beginning of the process, Leader Öcalan’ has valued the yazidi community and defined it as a part of the ongoing process. In the past, everyone was in a state of war; no one spoke of peace or resolution. Recently, under the leadership of Leader Öcalan and the Freedom Movement, a step has been taken that especially benefits the yazidi community. Therefore, the yazidi community must embrace this step more than anyone else.”
Suham Shengali described the Yazidi community as the oldest and most peaceful faith in the world, adding, “For this reason, as the yazidi community, we naturally joined Leader Öcalan’’s Peace and Democratic Society Manifesto.”
The TAJÊ Foreign Relations member said: “It is true that throughout history the yazidi community has faced many genocidal decrees (fermans) and has resisted them all. The most recent one showed how strong, determined, and resilient the yazidi people are. That is why Leader Apo wants the spirit of resistance to always remain alive in society.”
We must understand Öcalan’s messages and gifts
Suham Shengali emphasized that the yazidi community must fully understand Öcalan’s messages and gifts. She said: “I see with my own eyes that, with this gift, our Leader is asking us for knowledge. For the first time, he spoke of a yazidi renaissance. This time, he gave a pen to the Yazidi community. Therefore, yazidi women and young people must use this gift to develop their knowledge and understanding. The yazidi community has lived through many heroic epics, but also many hardships and pains. This has often gone unseen in history. Until now, the yazidi community has been little known to the world, and its history has not been written. Now the Leadership is asking us to take ownership of our history and our existence,” she said.
At the end of her speech, Suham Shengali reaffirmed her commitment to the yazidi people: “As the yazidi community, we sincerely thank Leader Öcalan’ for this valuable gift, and we promise to continue realizing his dreams and aspirations.”