This former Ezidi ISIS sex slave hopes for her husband’s return
Lakshmi Subramanian
Muslim rulers have always forced them to convert to Islam. When Saddam Hussein was ruling Iraq, the Ezidis faced displacement. It was then in 2003 when the US-led invasion took place, that Peshmerga was founded and many Ezidi men joined Peshmerga. But since then, there have been displacements and most Ezidis fled to Europe, Germany and many other neighbouring countries. Only 50,000 Ezidis live in Sinjar.
“The Ezidis are the most targeted in the whole of the Middle East. This is because we do not follow the Quran or Islam. We are the oldest religion in this part of the world with a 1400-year history. This is why we are targeted,” Sheikh told THE WEEK.
The attack on Ezidis began in 2014, according to him, as the geography of Sinjar is like a square and also because the Ezidis are not people who would fight back. “Between 2014 and 2019, our women and children were moved from Raqqa and Mosul like slaughter animals. Women above the age of 35 were made to work as servants. Girls between the age group of 15 to 20 were enslaved for sex. Many girls killed themselves. I remember how we heard the news of Jailan Bharjaz, who killed herself, fearing ISIS men.”
In the last one year, Sheikh has fought all odds to rescue at least 270 Ezidi women and children. “There are many more Ezidi women in refugee camps. We are still looking for them. Many have converted to Islam and don’t want to return to our religion,” points out Sheikh. Though at least 2,590 women and children escaped with the help of human smugglers out of the caliphate, according to him, 2,900 Ezidi women and children are missing. But Sheikh is determined to bring all the Ezidi women back home and reunite them with their family so that they can lead a peaceful life like Leyla Telo.
Ezidi24.com
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This former Ezidi ISIS sex slave hopes for her husband’s return
Lakshmi Subramanian
Muslim rulers have always forced them to convert to Islam. When Saddam Hussein was ruling Iraq, the Ezidis faced displacement. It was then in 2003 when the US-led invasion took place, that Peshmerga was founded and many Ezidi men joined Peshmerga. But since then, there have been displacements and most Ezidis fled to Europe, Germany and many other neighbouring countries. Only 50,000 Ezidis live in Sinjar.
“The Ezidis are the most targeted in the whole of the Middle East. This is because we do not follow the Quran or Islam. We are the oldest religion in this part of the world with a 1400-year history. This is why we are targeted,” Sheikh told THE WEEK.
The attack on Ezidis began in 2014, according to him, as the geography of Sinjar is like a square and also because the Ezidis are not people who would fight back. “Between 2014 and 2019, our women and children were moved from Raqqa and Mosul like slaughter animals. Women above the age of 35 were made to work as servants. Girls between the age group of 15 to 20 were enslaved for sex. Many girls killed themselves. I remember how we heard the news of Jailan Bharjaz, who killed herself, fearing ISIS men.”
In the last one year, Sheikh has fought all odds to rescue at least 270 Ezidi women and children. “There are many more Ezidi women in refugee camps. We are still looking for them. Many have converted to Islam and don’t want to return to our religion,” points out Sheikh. Though at least 2,590 women and children escaped with the help of human smugglers out of the caliphate, according to him, 2,900 Ezidi women and children are missing. But Sheikh is determined to bring all the Ezidi women back home and reunite them with their family so that they can lead a peaceful life like Leyla Telo.
Ezidi24.com
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