NIQASH: Can you tell us how over a thousand Yazidis who were kidnapped by the IS extremists, managed to be released?
Al-Sheikh: Some were able to escape during bombing raids by the international coalition on IS strongholds, especially in the city of Tal Afar, and also when bombing occurred as they were being moved around. The majority of them were released thanks to a deal done by the Iraqi Kurdish government and the IS group, that was organised by Arab negotiators from Mosul. The one you probably heard most about was the one done to free around 200 mostly elderly women.
NIQASH: Arabs in some areas of Sinjar say that Yazidi militias are now taking revenge on them.
Al-Sheikh: The Yazidis were subjected to massacres and humanitarian disasters. But they shouldn't commit acts of reprisal against anyone. We want the law to prevail.
NIQASH: Six months have passed since the IS group were expelled from many of Sinjar's villages and towns. Why haven't your people returned home yet?
Al-Sheikh: The Sinjar mountain area is about 70 kilometres long and the IS group are still nearby, so it is not completely safe or protected. There is still a lack of services such as electricity, water and medical services. Additionally the IS fighters looted many of the properties here. None of this makes people particularly motivated to return quickly.
NIQASH: It has been an extremely difficult year for your people. After all of this, do the Yazidis still trust? Can they trust?
Al-Sheikh: I can safely say that most Yazidis have no confidence in any party. They don't trust the Iraqi Kurdish government nor do they trust Kurdish militias of any kind. They don't trust the federal Iraqi army either. Our salvation lies in the formation of our own armed force to defend ourselves.
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