One Billion Rising
This 3 August
marks the two-year anniversary of the brutal attack of the Yazidi
people in Sinjar Province in the Northern region of Iraq, Two years
since IS or ISIL (also known as ISIS or Daesh) stormed towns, villages,
and historic homelands of the ethno-religious group, killing over 5,000 men and elders, enslaving over 7,000 women and children and displacing over 400,000 more.
Two years since the humanitarian crisis in which thousands of
internally displaced Yazidis were trapped on Sinjar Mountain, surrounded
by Isis fighters determined to exterminate the indigenous group, dying of exposure and dehydration.
Two years since the ongoing genocide of the Yazidi people began,
including the desecration of homes, holy sites and women's bodies.
The
recently published Chilcot report in the UK, which revealed that former
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and his major allies - including former
US President George Bush had illegally waged war in Iraq in March 2003
and militarily occupied it - further reiterates the connection that the
Iraq War contributed to the rise of IS or ISIL in the region.
Nadia
Murad is a 23-year-old victim of Isil's crimes in Iraq and one of the
thousands of Yazidi women who were abducted and enslaved by IS or ISIL.
She was brutally raped by more than 12 members over a period of three
months and was among the more than 5,000 Yazidi women taken captive when
IS or ISIL swept through the group's communities in Northern Iraq.
After her escape, Nadia spoke out about her horrific experiences at the
hands of IS or ISIL fighters to draw attention to the ongoing genocide.
She has described how she and other young women were forced to pray
before they were raped, and how they were treated as they were bought
and sold like "sabia" - slaves.
"We
were not worth the value of animals. They raped girls in groups, They
did what a mind could not imagine. They commit rape and genocide crimes
in the name of Islam. When they took me to Mosul to rape me, I forgot
about my mother and brothers. Because what they were doing to the women
was more difficult than death" - Nadia Murad
YAZDA is a global Yazidi organization who provides support for the victims of the genocide.
ON 3 AUGUST,
WE CALL ON THE WORLD TO SHOW SOLIDARITY FOR NADIA MURAD AND THE
THOUSANDS OF YAZIDI WOMEN AND GIRLS SOLD AND CAPTURED AS SEX SLAVES -
AND CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE CAPTURED 3,000 YAZIDI WOMEN.
WE
CALL ON THE WORLD TO HONOR THE GENOCIDAL ATTACK ON SINJAR TWO YEARS
AGO. WE AS A GLOBAL COMMUNITY, MUST KEEP THEIR STORIES AND THEIR
SITUATION VISIBLE WITH THE STRENGTH OF OUR SOLIDARITY.
ORGANIZE SOLIDARITY EVENTS AND ACTION IN YOUR COMMUNITIES. Here are some suggested actions:
MARCHES. VIGILS. WALKS. SOLIDARITY VIDEOS AND PHOTOS
SHOW
YOUR SOLIDARITY ONLINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. LETS FILL THE GLOBE ONLINE
WITH OUR SUPPORT FOR OUR YAZIDI SISTERS AND OUR DEMAND FOR JUSTICE FOR
THEM.
USE THE HASHTAG: #StopYazidiGenocide
