ZehraDoğan/JINHA

LALEŞ - Yesterday, Êzidîs held a barefoot march to the holy city of Lalesh to condemn the Shengal genocide on its first anniversary.

One year ago, Daesh massacred and kidnapped thousands of Êzidîs living in the city of Shengal, in the Federal Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Those who survived the attack were scattered throughout the region to refugee camps. Over 5,000 Êzidî women and children remain in Daesh hands today, one year after the massacre. There has been no serious international effort to rescue them.

Yesterday, Êzidîs living in camps in the Federal Kurdistan Region of Iraq started a barefoot march to the holy site of Lalesh.Thousands of Êzidîs took to the roads dressed all in white, with the words "hear the voice of the Êzidîs" and "don't forget the massacre" written on their garments. As the march of dozens of kilometers reached the city of Lalesh, Êzidîs fell to the ground and kissed the earth.

At the commemoration ceremony at Lalesh, the Êzidîs held a barefoot run and tied clothes to the shrines of the city to wish for the freedom of the captive women.

"Today is the anniversary of a dark day for Êzidîs and for all women," said FeleknasUca, Turkey's first Êzidî woman Parliamentary representative, speaking after the religious ceremony. Women cried out at the commemoration ceremony.

"They killed us to change our religion, but we still won't convert," said Gulê Silo, a woman who watched many of her relatives massacred by Daesh. Many others are still in captivity. "After the ones who left, I am going to keep my culture alive with all my conviction."

(fk/cm)