The people of the city of resistance and resilience, Kobani, commemorated the 12th anniversary of the Shengal Massacre today, Sunday, 3 August 2026, by holding a solidarity vigil and reading a public statement at Martyr Arîn Mîrkan Roundabout.
The event began at 11:00 a.m. with broad participation from local residents and representatives of civil institutions. Attendees observed a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs of Shengal.
The statement, delivered by Juli Temi during the vigil, strongly condemned the crimes committed by the terrorist organization ISIS against the Yazidi community on 3 August 2014. It noted that ISIS carried out a genocide in Shengal, including the mass killing of men, the enslavement of women, and the forced displacement of thousands of civilians from their homes.
The statement affirmed that “the people of Kobani will always stand alongside the Yazidi people in their suffering, and that the resistance of Kobani and Shengal are two sides of the same coin in the struggle against terrorism and extremism.” It also called on the international community to officially recognize the Yazidi genocide, hold those responsible accountable, and work to ensure the safe return of the displaced to their homeland while guaranteeing their security.
The Shengal Massacre, which took place on 3 August 2014, is regarded as one of the most horrific crimes committed by ISIS in the region, and its consequences continue to this day.
