What is happening in Şengal?

Alongside the attacks on Rojava, threats have multiplied against the autonomous territory of Şengal (northern Iraq, southern Kurdistan), where the majority of the Yazidi people live. The Iraqi state, in collaboration with the Turkish state, seeks to disarm the YBŞ-YJŞ self-defence forces, which fought alongside the PKK guerrillas and YPJ-YPG to save Şengal from genocide and to liberate the territory from Daesh. Since 2014 and up to the present day, the YBŞ-YJŞ have been defending the territory and enabling the development of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Şengal. We interviewed Eesam Şengalî, member of the Youth Êzidxan Unity, to gain a better understanding of the situation on the ground.

Young Ezidi and Arab women demonstrating for Rojava, 1st February 2026 (credits to Nûçe Ciwan)

Hello comrades, what is the current situation here in Şengal? What problems are you facing? What are your demands regarding status?

In Şengal, the autonomous administration, the YBŞ-YJŞ self-defence forces and their friends who have sought freedom from the very beginning until the present day are striving to ensure Şengal’s security. It is well known that lasting peace is possible only through the protection of the people’s culture and beliefs, and by safeguarding their will and autonomy. For Şengal’s existence to be protected, there is a need for a special and official status. An alliance that is not based on the people’s democracy is not based on peace either. Based on this, one might ask: are the states of the Middle East ready for peace?

On the one hand, the people of Şengal face various attacks of occupation. Turkey has not abandoned its imperial ambitions and, from the skies with its drones and aircraft, is attempting to bring Şengal under its control. At the same time, the threats of cultural assimilation persist: there is a special war of fragmentation, with widespread and heavy-handed attacks being waged against the beliefs and will of the people so that the capitalist system and the nation-state may be accepted.

For Şengal to remain Şengal, a political approach is necessary; there is a need for a status based on democracy. It is not possible to treat Şengal as a normal territory within Iraq. The people of Şengal have, until now, ensured their survival through legitimate and autonomous self-defence. During the 2014 genocide, whilst the KDP and the Iraqi army had abandoned the population, the people of Şengal resisted on their own and, with the support of Apoist fighters, freed themselves from the brutality of Daesh. The YBŞ-YJŞ are still awaiting official recognition as self-defence forces.

In this context, apart from the work carried out by the autonomous administration, the YBŞ-YJŞ forces and the youth vanguard, no one speaks of the danger and the need to protect the Yazidi people as an ancient and sacred people. The work we are carrying out is done from a perspective of popular autonomy and women’s liberation. There is never any intention of war; the people of Şengal do not adopt an oppositional stance towards the state. The history of the people of Sengal is not based on war but on resistance. The history of Şengal is linked to friendship, camaraderie and brotherhood-sisterhood among peoples. To this day, such an approach is upheld. In the attacks against the SDF (Rojava), the strength of brotherhood-sisterhood and the unity of the people has been proven.

The policy of this region relies on dialogue to keep war at bay so that Şengal can develop. However, the Iraqi government’s efforts to improve the situation remain very limited; its approaches fail to take into account the views and circumstances of the people.

How is the ongoing war in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and the US on one side and Iran on the other, affecting the situation in Şengal?

In the war between the US, Israel and Iran, all strategic locations are being targeted. In Iraq and Southern Kurdistan, both the Americans and Israel are attacking sites linked to Iran, whilst Iran is attacking sites linked to the US and Israel. These attacks have even spread as far as Lebanon. Iraq is not a vacuum. Turkey, Israel, the KDP have plans and projects for Iraq and Southern Kurdistan. Iraq understands this. So far, there have been no attacks on Şengal, but the Iraqi government wants to strip the people of their weapons and thus of their power. Once again, confusion and false information are being spread to foster fear and chaos. But the people have reacted: weapons represent our defence and our honour. From now on, if Iraq wishes to protect its existence, it must understand the reality of the historical sociology of Mesopotamia and, on that basis, develop a dialogue, an alliance and a status for Şengal.

As a revolutionary youth movement, how do you combat the attacks being waged against the people of Şengal and young people in general? What are your plans for strengthening your resistance?

For the truth to emerge from the confusion and to counteract the physical and psychological attacks, there is a need for a strong political awakening. We can achieve this through welatparezî [love and defence of the land] and the will to live freely. Once again, this role and this mission rest with the youth. The more society sustains its existence through its youth, the more meaning young people active within society gain. Our future is in our hands. It is young people who can best pledge to fight for a just life because we have a strong bond to life, to the love of the quest for freedom, because we are the ones who will be here tomorrow.

The wars waged by hegemonic powers are linked to the system of capitalist modernity, which is inherently destructive. The reality of the collapse of this global system – destruction, modern colonialism, liberalism – is giving rise to an internationalist struggle. To this end, we must approach our struggle in a broad manner. The more that people organise themselves based on a mindset rooted in truth, the less likely they are to abandon true freedom, and the more they can live with honour, equality and high moral standards.

Here, we are committed to organising ourselves on the basis of independent and free thought; this must be taken into account. The defence of Şengal, whether material or spiritual, must be ensured through the work and efforts of the Şengal people. This is the foundation of democracy and the prerequisite for peace. The defence of culture, beliefs and the achievements of society are essential conditions. All of this must develop on the basis of self-determination. To this end, for an agreement to be reached, it must be based on dialogue within the framework of the peoples’ identities and specific characteristics.