Yezidi communities commemorate Koço massacre and victims

Commemorations were held in Koço village, near Sinjar, to mark the anniversary of the massacre committed by ISIS on August 15, 2014. The event brought together Yezidi parliamentarians, political figures, and community members to honor those killed for their religious beliefs.

During the memorial, speakers emphasized the importance of unity to prevent future atrocities against the Yezidi people. Xerîb Hiso, Co-Chair of the PYD, also commemorated the eighth anniversary of the death of Mam Zekî Şengalî, a member of the KCK Executive Council and Yezidi Coordination, who was killed in an airstrike on August 15, 2018.

Survivors and community members expressed ongoing grief and a demand for justice. A primary grievance raised by attendees is the continued absence of the remains of massacre victims, which are reportedly still in Baghdad. Families are calling for the return of these remains so they can provide proper burials and visit their loved ones' graves.