MOURNFUL wailing filled the room at the Coffs Harbour Yazidi community’s commemoration of the genocide against their people which took place in Sinjar, Iraq in 2014.
Every year on 3 August, Yazidis in Iraq and across the world commemorate the genocide they endured that day, eleven years ago.
“August 3 is not just a date, it is a global call for justice, humanity, and remembrance,” said Coffs Harbour Commemoration organiser Elias Elias.
At the Coffs Harbour gathering at Norm Jordan Pavilion more than 300 grieving Yazidi refugees watched a video of “The Black Day”, known to the people as “Rojava Resh”, showing actual footage of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) massacres.
Photos of the martyrs and the missing were displayed, and survivors’ stories were shared to keep the memories alive.
According to Elias, the commemoration shows that Yazidis “refuse to forget this atrocity”.
“It is also a time to press government representatives and organisations to get justice for the perpetrators of these crimes,” Elias said.
“To rescue those still missing, many of whom remain unaccounted for.
“And to begin the reconstruction of Sinjar and the safe and dignified return of our displaced families.”
Speaking at the event, Elias gave a short history of the genocide in which 7,000 people were killed.
He said men were murdered in front of their families, women were brutally tortured, and children were sold into sexual slavery.
Young Yazidi boys were taken away to be retrained to fight with ISIS, he said, while escaped Yazidis were forced into hiding in the hills for many days.
Elias, a young boy at time of the attack, survived for a week in the hills on one piece of bread.
Two young women from the community then spoke about their experiences in Sinjar which included sexual assault, physical brutality, and seperation from their families.
“We felt our human rights were gone, no one came to help us,” one of them said.
Eleven years later, more than 3,000 Yazidis are still unaccounted for.
Member of Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh spoke at the event, in solemn remembrance of the traditions of the Yazidi people.
“We can offer you dignity, peace, safety and a future for your children,” he said.
“You are not guests here; you are part of us now.
“As your local member I will continue to advocate for you,” he said.
City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams addressed the gathering “as a mother, a sister, a daughter”.
She spoke of the families destroyed and how hard it is to comprehend such atrocities.
“Today we remember what you have lost and honour your strength to keep going,” Cr Williams said.
“We commit to building a community where your children and our children grow up side by side, seen, protected and not alone.”
By Andrea FERRARI
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