Shingal sees restoration of Shiite institutions, as destroyed Yazidi shrines lay in ruin

SHINGAL, Iraq — Shingal’s (Sinjar) Shiites, among the groups once persecuted by the Islamic State (ISIS) group, are rebuilding their religious life in the war-ravaged town.

Since the northwestern Iraqi town’s liberation in 2015, four Shiite shrines destroyed by ISIS have been reopened with funding from religious authorities in Najaf and Karbala. New institutions, including a cultural centre and a Hussainia (Shiite congregational hall), are opening their doors as well. 

“The shrine of our superior Zainab (peace be upon her) is up there. It has been renovated, after it was blown up by ISIS. There is also the shrine of Pir Zakar, who is our ancestor. The Shiite endowment is now renovating it and it’s in the final stages of reconstruction,” Abbas Abdullah, the Shiite mukhtar in Shingal, told Rudaw on Friday.

“There is also the shrine of the sons of Ali close to the agriculture directorate. It is in the process of being restored. And we will open up this Hussainia. God willing we will restore our mosque to what it was like before,” he added. 

Shingal’s Shiites, who mostly consist of Kurds, largely live in the town’s centre. No official demographic numbers for the group are available.

However, with no local Yazidi shrines having been renovated since their destruction by ISIS, some from the majority group look nervously upon Shiite reconstruction.

“Firstly, the Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Forces or PMF] are in Shingal. Secondly, power is almost in the hands of Shiites. So, the Shiites are sure [they are backed by them], that’s why they are coming and have no problems,” Khero Murad, a Yazidi shopkeeper, told Rudaw.

Ilyas Haji, a student, had similar remarks. “We know that the Shiites are backed by Najaf and Karbala. They are restoring their shrines and by doing this, they change the demography of Shingal,” he said.

Before ISIS, there were 28 Yazidi shrines in Shingal. Eight of them were blown up. So far, none have been renovated.

Sheikh Shamo Naamo, who advises the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) prime minister on Yazidi affairs, also claims Shiites moving into the area is part of a larger plan of demographic change.

“The Shiites now have come and opened cultural centres in Shingal to spread their culture and traditions, and to settle more Shiites in the town. The fate of Shingal is going through a dark tunnel,” he told Rudaw’s Rozhan Abubakir on Friday.

“This project of invading our land is the beginning of our removal and is a threat to our identity. Unfortunately, some of our Shingali people are happy with this project.”

Shiites see Shingal as religiously significant due to Prophet Mohammed’s cousin Ali having passed through the town.

Translation and video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed