Iraq: Yezidi child survivors of ‘Islamic State’ facing unprecedented health crisis

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Read: 1394     14:30     31 Июль 2020    

Women with children born of sexual violence

Yezidi women and girls gave birth to hundreds of children as a result of sexual enslavement by IS fighters. Many of these children have largely been denied a place in the Yezidi community due to a number of factors, including the stance of the Yezidi Supreme Spiritual Council and the current legal framework in Iraq, which mandates that any child of an ‘unknown’ or Muslim father must be registered as Muslim.

Several women interviewed by Amnesty International said they were pressured, coerced or even deceived into leaving their children behind, causing severe mental anguish. These women were also falsely assured that they would be able to visit or reunite with their children at a later stage. All the women interviewed who were separated from their children said they had no contact with or access to them. They said they felt unable to speak with their families or community about wanting to reunite with their children, due to fears for their own safety.

Janan*, 22, said: “I want to tell [our community] and everyone in the world, please accept us, and accept our children… I didn’t want to have a baby from these people. I was forced to have a son. I would never ask to be reunited with his father, but I need to be reunited with my son.”

Hanan*, 24, whose daughter was taken from her, said: “My feeling is the same feeling as all the other mothers [in the same situation]. We have all thought about killing ourselves, or tried to do it… We are human, we have our rights, and we want our children to be with us. Whatever we experienced with IS, we are going through something worse now. We need a solution.”

These women were enslaved, tortured and subjected to sexual violence. They should not suffer any further punishment

Matt Wells

Amnesty International is calling for international organizations such as the UNHCR to prioritize and fast-track these women and children for resettlement or humanitarian relocation, with the co-operation of the national authorities and foreign governments.

“These women were enslaved, tortured and subjected to sexual violence. They should not suffer any further punishment. They need to be reunited with their children, and any future separations must be prevented. They must be offered the opportunity of international resettlement or relocation together with their children, given the enormous risks they face in Iraq,” said Matt Wells.

*Names have been changed for their security





Tags: #yazidisinfo   #newsyezidi   #genocideyezidi   #ezidichildren   #aboutyezidi  



Iraq: Yezidi child survivors of ‘Islamic State’ facing unprecedented health crisis

2020/08/46546-1596622074.jpg
Read: 1395     14:30     31 Июль 2020    

Women with children born of sexual violence

Yezidi women and girls gave birth to hundreds of children as a result of sexual enslavement by IS fighters. Many of these children have largely been denied a place in the Yezidi community due to a number of factors, including the stance of the Yezidi Supreme Spiritual Council and the current legal framework in Iraq, which mandates that any child of an ‘unknown’ or Muslim father must be registered as Muslim.

Several women interviewed by Amnesty International said they were pressured, coerced or even deceived into leaving their children behind, causing severe mental anguish. These women were also falsely assured that they would be able to visit or reunite with their children at a later stage. All the women interviewed who were separated from their children said they had no contact with or access to them. They said they felt unable to speak with their families or community about wanting to reunite with their children, due to fears for their own safety.

Janan*, 22, said: “I want to tell [our community] and everyone in the world, please accept us, and accept our children… I didn’t want to have a baby from these people. I was forced to have a son. I would never ask to be reunited with his father, but I need to be reunited with my son.”

Hanan*, 24, whose daughter was taken from her, said: “My feeling is the same feeling as all the other mothers [in the same situation]. We have all thought about killing ourselves, or tried to do it… We are human, we have our rights, and we want our children to be with us. Whatever we experienced with IS, we are going through something worse now. We need a solution.”

These women were enslaved, tortured and subjected to sexual violence. They should not suffer any further punishment

Matt Wells

Amnesty International is calling for international organizations such as the UNHCR to prioritize and fast-track these women and children for resettlement or humanitarian relocation, with the co-operation of the national authorities and foreign governments.

“These women were enslaved, tortured and subjected to sexual violence. They should not suffer any further punishment. They need to be reunited with their children, and any future separations must be prevented. They must be offered the opportunity of international resettlement or relocation together with their children, given the enormous risks they face in Iraq,” said Matt Wells.

*Names have been changed for their security





Tags: #yazidisinfo   #newsyezidi   #genocideyezidi   #ezidichildren   #aboutyezidi