Iraq's Yazidis call for autonomy as conflict flares between army, PKK affiliates

Ongoing tensions due to regional interference to settle scores among rivals threaten new acts of violence, menacing the Yazidi minority concentrated in the area.
Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community, who fled violence between Islamic State (IS) group jihadists and Peshmerga fighters in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar, sit in a field near a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in the Sharya area some 15 kilometres from the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk on May 20, 2015.
Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community, who fled violence between Islamic State (IS) group jihadists and peshmerga fighters in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar, sit in a field near a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in the Sharya area some 15 kilometers from the northern Iraqi city of Dahuk on May 20, 2015. - SAFIN HAMED/AFP via Getty Images
SamanDawod.jpg
Saman Dawod
@saman1dawod
Read in 

More than 40 Yazidi community leaders from Sinjar signed a petition on March 13, demanding self-rule in Sinjar, the addition of the Ezidxane Asayish (Security Forces of Ezidkhan) to the security forces, and other demands related to services and job opportunities. The Ezidxane Asayish are the Yazidi police forces in areas controlled by the Sinjar Resistance Units, which are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Over the past few days, the city of Sinjar — disputed between Baghdad and Erbil — has been the stage of emerging tensions between the Iraqi army and advocates of the PKK refusing entry to the army.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more