(ANF) Êzidîs living in Europe have started a march from Dusseldorf, Germany to the European Union’s capital Brussels in order to protest the AKP/KDP gangs’ attacks on Shengal.

Êzidî people came together in front of the North Rhine Westphalia State parliament in Dusseldorf, Germany at 11:00 this morning, chanting the slogans ‘Long Live Shengal Resistance’, ‘Long Live Leader Apo’ and ‘Death to betrayal’ before starting a march to Brussels in solidarity with the people of Shengal facing attacks by AKP/KDP gangs.

European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E) Co-president Yüksel Koç and representatives of many institutions participated in the event organized by the Shengal Êzidî Diaspora Assembly.

https://youtu.be/n6qQUMb2y3o

Shengal Êzidî Diaspora Assembly Co-president Fikret İgrek spoke on behalf of the crowd that unfurled a banner reading ‘Çeteyên KDP û AKP deste xwe ji axa Êzîdxan Bikşînîn’ (KDP and AKP gangs shall withdraw their hands from Êzîdxan).

İgrek demanded that the gang groups affiliated with the AKP and KDP retreat from the Khanasor immediately in order for the crisis not to deepen further, saying; “Êzidîs have been through 73 massacres so far and they are facing continued attacks. We therefore need to defend ourselves and demand that YBŞ and YJŞ be recognized as the defense forces of Shengal.”

İgrek said it was important that international powers send independent delegations to the region and form an international circle of security in order for the resolution of the crisis in Shengal and the protection of Êzidî people’s faith and culture. He said: “Our march begins in Dusseldorf, Germany, today and will continue until March 27 when it will end with a rally in the European Union’s capital Brussels.”

“DEFENDING SHENGAL IS DEFENDING HUMANITY”

KCDK-E Co-president Yüksel Koç congratulated all the protestors and put emphasis on the importance of the march. Koç said “This is a very important protest. Everyone should know that the people of Shengal are not alone; patriotic Kurds will defend Shengal everywhere they are. KDP is betraying and attacking the people of Shengal for the sake of the Turkish state. This is a betrayal against all the Kurdish people. KDP and Masoud Barzani should reverse their wrong decision and stop betraying the Kurdish people immediately. We strongly condemn these attacks and call upon our patriotic people to stand with the protest and its participants throughout the route of the march.”

Protestors began their march after the press statement and are handing out leaflets and chanting slogans exposing the attacks on Shengal. Participants will cover a total of 27 kilometers today and resume the march from Mönchengladbach tomorrow.