The plight of Yazidi girls who became prisoners of ISIS is a tragic and harrowing chapter in the history of the extremist group’s atrocities. Here is an overview of their story:
Targeting of Yazidis: ISIS specifically targeted the Yazidi religious minority in northern Iraq, considering them “infidels” due to their unique religious beliefs and practices.
Mass abductions: In 2014, ISIS launched a brutal campaign in the Sinjar region, capturing thousands of Yazidi women and girls. They were subjected to forced conversions, sexual slavery, and other forms of extreme violence.
Systematic abuse: Yazidi girls who fell into the hands of ISIS faced unimaginable horrors. They were subjected to sexual exploitation, forced marriages, physical and psychological abuse, and sold as commodities in slave markets.
Enslavement and trafficking: Many Yazidi girls were enslaved by ISIS fighters, passed around as property, and trafficked within and outside of ISIS-controlled territories. They were stripped of their dignity and subjected to constant violence and exploitation.
Escape and rescue: Some Yazidi girls managed to escape or were rescued by local and international efforts. Organizations like Yazda, Nadia’s Initiative, and others have been working tirelessly to locate and rescue Yazidi captives and provide them with support and rehabilitation.
Psychological and physical trauma: The ordeal endured by Yazidi girls under ISIS has left deep scars, both physically and emotionally. Many survivors suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physical injuries, and ongoing psychological trauma.
Advocacy and justice: Yazidi activists, human rights organizations, and international bodies have been advocating for justice, accountability, and recognition of the atrocities committed against Yazidi girls. Efforts are underway to document the crimes, hold perpetrators accountable, and seek justice for the victims.
Rehabilitation and support: Survivors of ISIS captivity, including Yazidi girls, require comprehensive support to rebuild their lives. Rehabilitation programs aim to address their physical and psychological needs, provide education, vocational training, and help them reintegrate into society.
Global awareness: The stories of Yazidi girls held captive by ISIS have garnered global attention and raised awareness about the atrocities committed by the extremist group. Their stories serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice, protection, and support for survivors.
Resilience and hope: Despite the unimaginable horrors they endured, many Yazidi girls have shown remarkable resilience and strength. With support and opportunities, they strive to rebuild their lives, reclaim their identities, and find hope for a better future.
The plight of Yazidi girls as prisoners of ISIS serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to prevent and address extremist violence, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure justice for the victims of such heinous crimes.
Who are these Yazidi?
The Yazidis are an ethno-religious group primarily concentrated in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq, as well as smaller populations in Syria and Turkey. They have a unique religious belief system that combines elements of various ancient Mesopotamian religions, Sufi Islam, and Christianity. The Yazidi religion is monotheistic, and they worship a peacock angel known as Melek Taus.
Yazidis have faced a long history of persecution and discrimination due to their religious beliefs. They have been targeted by various groups throughout history, including the Ottoman Empire and extremist organizations like ISIS. In 2014, ISIS launched a brutal campaign against the Yazidis, killing thousands, capturing women as sex slaves, and displacing many others from their homes.
The Yazidis have a distinct culture and traditions that have been shaped by their historical experiences. They have a strong sense of community and identity, and their religious rituals and practices are an integral part of their daily lives. Yazidis place a high value on oral traditions and have an important oral religious tradition called the “Book of Revelation.”
In recent years, efforts have been made to raise awareness about the Yazidis and their unique religious and cultural heritage. International organizations and human rights advocates have called for justice for the atrocities committed against the Yazidis and for the protection of their rights and religious freedom.
It is important to respect and understand the Yazidis’ beliefs, culture, and history, while also working towards fostering tolerance, inclusivity, and peace among diverse religious and ethnic communities.
Layla Talu: A Yazidi woman who was sold, whipped and raped by ISIS
Layla Talu could never have anticipated the betrayal from her once trusted neighbors. However, when former friends living in the villages near her residence in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq revealed their whereabouts, Layla’s family had no choice but to escape.
In the early hours of August 3, 2014, at 7am precisely, Layla, her husband Marwan Khalil, and their two young children, aged four and 18 months, abandoned their home. Joining the ranks of tens of thousands of other Yazidis, their desperate hope was to find refuge on Mount Sinjar.
Their journey to safety was abruptly halted. In a matter of hours, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) had besieged the city of Sinjar and the neighboring villages. Layla’s family, along with numerous other Yazidis attempting to flee, fell into their clutches.
As they were captured on the road, the men were forcibly separated from the women and children. Layla and her little ones were taken to Baaj district, southwest of Mosul, along with many others, where they endured a harrowing four-day captivity. They were then moved to Tal Afar, where a school served as their prison before being relocated once again, a week later, to the infamous Badush prison. When coalition forces bombed the prison, they were returned to Tal Afar.
During their ordeal, the women and children endured physical abuse, verbal insults, constant threats, and starvation, as Layla recounts. After enduring eight long months of such torment, many weakened by illness, they were eventually transported to Raqqa, the stronghold of ISIL in Syria.
Laila Talu never anticipated that her neighbors would betray her. However, when former friends from the villages surrounding her home in the Sinjar district of northern Iraq disclosed her whereabouts, her family had no choice but to flee. In the early morning of August 3, 2014, Laila, her husband Marwan Khalil, and their two young children, aged four and 18 months, left their residence. Alongside tens of thousands of other Yazidis, they sought refuge on Mount Sinjar, hoping to escape the impending danger. Unfortunately, their journey to safety was cut short. Within hours, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) had encircled Sinjar city and the surrounding villages. Laila’s family, along with dozens of other Yazidis attempting to flee, was captured on the road. The men were forcibly separated from the women and children. That evening, Laila and her children were transported, along with others, to Baaj district in southwest Mosul, where they were detained for four days. They were then moved to Tal Afar, where they were imprisoned in a school. A week later, they were transferred again, this time to Badush prison. When the prison was bombed by coalition aircraft, they were sent back to Tal Afar. During their captivity, the women and children endured unimaginable suffering. They were subjected to beatings, insults, threats, and starvation. Laila recalls the horrors they faced, which lasted for eight long months. Eventually, they were transferred to Raqqa, the stronghold of ISIL in Syria.
“He raped me several times, and then he sold me for a profit.”
Laila Talu’s harrowing story continues as she recounts the individuals who perpetuated her suffering. The man who “purchased” her hailed from Baghdad and was approximately 40 years old.
Tragically, Laila was subjected to further atrocities. When she became pregnant, she was coerced into having an abortion. The captors would refer to them as “spaghetti,” dehumanizing them and asserting that they deserved only death and enslavement.
A Saudi man was responsible for raping Laila, subjecting her to beatings and lashings with a whip. She tragically experienced another forced abortion when she became pregnant again.
During this time, Laila was confined to a small house with her two children, completely isolated from the outside world. She remained unaware of her husband’s and family’s fate.
Subsequently, she was passed on to a 33-year-old Lebanese man who, with the assistance of his Dutch wife, continued to perpetrate acts of rape against her. Laila recounts enduring further abuse from several other men while under his control.
After spending two years in Raqqa, Laila received news of potential freedom. Negotiations took place between her family and a Syrian smuggler, who demanded a ransom of over $20,000 in exchange for their release.
At the age of 33, Layla courageously reveals the notebook she kept during her time in Raqqa, which contains chilling details of the experiences endured by herself and fellow Yazidi women and girls.
Maintaining the notebook was not without risk, as Layla was aware that its discovery by her captors would put her in grave danger. However, Layla’s determination to show future generations the oppression, persecution, and displacement suffered by those who came before them outweighed the risks. She also hoped that documenting the atrocities committed against them would contribute to obtaining justice for the victims.
After her liberation, Layla’s thoughts shifted to how her community would receive her. Initially, fear of rejection hindered her from discussing the horrors she and other Yazidi women and girls had endured. However, as she heard the stories of other survivors, she gradually began to open up.
Now, Layla aspires to prevent such atrocities from happening to other women in the future by sharing her story. She expresses her hope that through sharing her own suffering and that of all Yazidis, particularly women, with the world, the truth about the oppression, persecution, rape, murder, and displacement they experienced will be known.
Layla considers herself fortunate because she and her children managed to survive the harrowing ordeal they endured.
Tragically, Layla reveals that not all Yazidi women were able to endure the unimaginable suffering they faced. She mentions a girl named Zairi who took her own life after being subjected to rape, recounting that she slit her wrists with a sharp blade. Layla adds that many other Yazidi women resorted to similar desperate measures.
Despite surviving, Layla continues to struggle with intense panic and fear whenever she recalls her time in captivity. The pain, emotions, and breathlessness that accompany these memories are magnified when she shares them with fellow women from her community who also experienced captivity. At times, she questions how she can carry on living in the face of such trauma.
Layla harbors the hope of one day providing testimony to the authorities regarding the atrocities committed against her and countless other women and girls.
Currently, Layla resides in the Dohuk Governorate in northern Iraq, living in a rented house that is financially supported by one of her brothers. She reveals that her father passed away in January, having lost all hope that his eldest son would ever return to the family.
