Fighter jets belonging to Turkey bombed Shengal and North and East Syrian city of Derik from air for hours. While scores of people lost their lives during these simultaneous attacks, hundreds survived the bombing injured. Not only people but also other living things were harmed in the attack on Shengal on the Çila Zivistanê Feast celebrated by Yazidis in the first week of February.

 

The striking detail in the last attack was the murdered Peacock. The Peacock, which is sacred to the Yazidis, was killed with its head high in the wreckage of a building that was destroyed in the bombardment. Journalist İbrahim Êzidî, who photographed the Peacock, told our agency the story of the photograph he took.

 

'IT WAS THE INDICATION OF THEIR HOSTILITY AGAINST THE YAZIDIS'

 

Journalist Êzidî pointed out that Turkey carries out attacks against Yazidis on holy days and said, "21 districts were bombed in Shengal on February 1st. Most of the places that were bombed were on Mount Shengal. These areas were Barê, Serdeşt and Çilmeran. These areas are sacred places for Yazidis. These areas have been seen considered to be sacred from way back because Yazidis protected themselves on Mount Shengal in every massacre they have gone through. That's why Mount Shengal is sacred. This mountain has been subjected to dozens of attacks and massacres so far. But still, it never bowed its head. The aim of these attacks is to destroy the Yazidis. They want the Yazidis to leave Shengal once and for all. Attacking the Yazidis on such a holy day is a declaration of being hostile to their religion and to the Yazidis themselves."

 

HE WAS ON SIGHT RIGHT AFTER THE ATTACK

 

Stating that he went to the place where the attack took place right after the bombing and photographed what happened, Journalist Êzidî said: "There was an intense air mobility in Shengal a few days before the air strikes. Everyone set off to the place where the air strikes hit on the day of the attack. One of the places that was bombed by those fighter jets was the Home base of the 80th Infantry Division affiliated to Hashdi Shaabi. I went there first. We were there to see how the people were doing. When we got there, we saw what was done with our own eyes. And once again we witnessed Turkey's grudge and hatred against the Yazidis. One of the messages Turkey gave in these air strikes was that if the Yazidis were organized, they would be targeted by Turkey."

 

'IT DODN'T BOW HIS HEAD'

 

Stating that Yazidis, like that Peacock, never bowed to oppression and tyranny, Êzidî said: "Before these attacks, I went to the base several times and saw everything in the garden. This garden was built by the murdered Merwan Bedel and Serdeşt Şengalî. Everything grew green in this garden and it has become a huge garden. There were birds, pigeons and many kinds of animals. The soldiers were not there at the time of the attack. As I went there, Teyre Tawis (the peacock) first caught my attention. I was devastated when I saw it. The feeling I experienced at that moment was very different, however it was perfectly normal. Teyre Tawis gave his soul, but he did not bow his head. Just as Yazidis throughout the history, did not bow to their enemy, it did not bow its heads either."

 

'YAZIDIS NEVER BOW THEIR HEADS'

 

Stating that he was moved by the moment when he took that photograph, Êzidî said: "I saw that the mothers who came to the site that was bombed were so sad it was like as if their own children had died. Teyrê Tawis is the most sacred thing to the Yazidis. They don't take them as a pet in their homes in concern that they can not properly take care of them but peacocks are always there in centers like these. Everyone was flocked to the bombed site. But everyone was dead silent. There was a growing anger inside of them. They started crying when they saw that peacock died with its head high. A creature considered to be sacred to the Yazidis was slaughtered in a day that is very sacred to the Yazidis. The peacock once again proved that the Yazidis never bow their heads. Shengal was attacked over and over again throughout history. But this was the first time something like this had happened. Anyone who targets the values and rituals of the Yazidi community brings with it anger and resentment. Just as the peacock did not bow its head, the Yazidis will not bow their heads and will defend their values to the end."

 

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut