In an interview with VOA, Mahma Xelil said that Shingl has been in a state of "grave" devastation since August 3, 2014 attack by the IS and the massacre and abduction of Yazidi Kurds by the terrorist group. Yazidi refugees want to return to their homeland in Shingal, but due to political conflicts and lack of security and services, it is not possible for them to return, and the Iraqi government is constitutionally obliged to rebuild the region and provide services to it and ensure the welfare and security of Shingal.

The former governor stressed that Shingal is a strategic region in domestic and foreign political conflicts, saying that the presence of the PKK forces in the region was an excuse for Turkey bombings, and “if they are not in the region, the bombings would not happen.”

He also said that local officials, including the governor, do not have the legal authority to resolve the dispute between Turkey and the PKK, and to withdraw PKK forces from Shingal, and that the Iraqi central government, as the guardian of national sovereignty, should do it. The PKK forces in Shingal have also announced that they receive salaries from Baghdad and Hashad al-Shaabi and will only carry out Baghdad's orders.

Regarding the role of PKK forces in defending Shingal during the IS attack, Mahma Xelil acknowledged that these forces had helped the city and the Yazidis, noting that this assistance should not be turned into an opportunity for their own interests. Because all the Kurds and political parties, including the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) helped Shingal, and the PKK is also a part of the Kurds and has helped Shingal, but they should not make the help an excuse, since the Yazidis do not accept such a thing. At one time, the Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Region also went to Kobani and helped to liberate it, but later they left the region and returned to the Kurdistan Region.

He also demanded that PKK forces leave the area after helping Shingal and return to their areas, saying that they had brought their clashes with Turkey into Shingal, which is a devastated house itself.

Asked whether those responsible for IS's occupation of Shingal had been tried and punished, he said: "We have asked that everyone, including parties, administrative and military officials, who are responsible for the fall should be tried."

He also said that there was no information about the results of the investigation of the 45-member committee of the Iraqi parliament that was formed to investigate the fall of Shingal and Mosul and the committee formed by the leader of the KDP (former head of the Kurdistan Region) Massoud Barzani to investigate the fall of Shingal. Mahma Xelil stressed that these committees need to continue their efforts and clarify the results of their research.

Reporter’s code: 50101