Turkish warplanes launched an airstrike on the Old Bazaar in Shengal on 16 August. Two people lost their lives as a result of the attack while 3 people were injured. Another air strike was carried out against an hospital in Shengal's Sikêniyê district hours after the first attack. Eight people including four health care workers lost their lives in the attack while 4 people survived the attack injured. The fact that Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Kazimi was expected in Shengal the day of the attack drew attantion. Journalist İbrahim Êzidî who followed the story during and after the attack spoke to Mesopotamia Agency (MA) and told what happened. 

 

IT WAS NOT AN ORDINARY ATTACK

 

Stating that the attack on Shengal was planned and organized, Êzidî told that the fight against ISIS was targeted. POinting out that as the journalists they were ready at the city center waiting for the visit of Iraqi PM Mustafa Kazimi, Êzidî told that Kazimi was expected to to hold talks with the Shengal Democratic Autonomous Assembly (MXDŞ). Êzidî said: "We were told that Kazimi would be in Shengal at 13.00. The attack was carried out an hour before that. We can approach and interpret the targeting of Seid Hesen in many different ways. For one, Turkey is giving the message that it can attack any time it wants and secondly, it was a result of the October 9 agreement.

 

IT WAS PLANNED

 

İbrahim Êzidî, who said that the Êzidi people returned to Shengal after the defense of Shengal was established, expressed that Kazimi wanted to visit Shengal because it was safe again. İbrahim Êzidî said: "They attacked to create the impression that Shengal isn't safe. It was a joint attack. Because Seid Hesen had a meeting with Iraqi officials a few hours before that. When you consider the attack with all its details, you will see that there are more than one suspects. It was not an ordinary attack. It was also a planned attack, like none of the ones before that."

 

KAZİMİ IS AN ACCOMPLICE OF THE ATTACK

 

Drawing attention to the attitude of the Iraqi government, İbrahim Êzidî told that it was a joint attack. Êzidî said: "Kazimi made a statement at the Koço village right after the attack and did not mention the attack at all. He didn't even pay his respects to the people who lost their lives as a result of the attack. He just mentioned the October 9 Agreement and told that Shengal is not safe which indicates that the aim of the attack was to strengthen the October 9 agreement. Turkey implicated that if the agreement is not implemented it will continue the air strikes while the Iraqi government threatens the Êzidî people that Turkey will attack if the agreement is not implemented. Turkey maybe was the direct perpetrator of the attack, but Kazimi and KDP was accomplices otherwise Iraq would condemn Turkey in some way."

 

IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE

 

Underlining that the area where Turkey attacked was a battle ground where the Êzidî fought ISIS, Êzidî said: "This attack was carried out against those who lead the attack against ISIS. Seid Hesen is one of these leaders. He lead the defense against ISIS and saves millions of Êzidîs from slaughter. This was a revenge for the defeat of ISIS. The area attacked was a ground of resistance. Neither the place nor the time was a coincidence. These attacks discredit Iraq. Bombing a hospital is a war crime. Turkey wants to continue the same thing it did in Shengal. Bombing a hospital is a war crime."

 

 

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut