Six More Yazidi Women Rescued from ISIS Captivity, Nadia Murad Reports
In a heartening development following weeks of investigation, renowned Yazidi activist Nadia Murad has announced the successful rescue of six additional Yazidi women who were previously held captive by ISIS. The women, who were originally taken as children and teenagers in 2014, have been freed and brought back to Erbil, where they will soon be reunited with their families and provided with the necessary psychosocial support.
Trafficked from Iraq and held captive in Syria, these women's rescue marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to combat the atrocities committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community. The operation, made possible by the establishment of an office dedicated to rescuing kidnapped Yazidi women and girls, was spearheaded by the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani.
Nadia Murad expressed her deep gratitude to President Barzani for his instrumental role in facilitating the rescue and emphasized the importance of international assistance in the ongoing search for more missing Yazidi women and children. The humanitarian campaign to locate and rescue trafficked and enslaved Yazidis continues, and Murad remains committed to bringing back all kidnapped Yazidi individuals.
After weeks of investigation, I am extremely heartened to report that we have rescued six more Yazidi women who were taken captive by ISIS.
— Nadia Murad (@NadiaMuradBasee) June 3, 2023
The women were still children and teenagers when they were first taken captive in 2014. Trafficked out of Iraq and onto Syria, they were… pic.twitter.com/oKKWqAuSVh
The Yazidi community has endured immense suffering, including mass killings, sexual slavery, and forced displacement, at the hands of ISIS since the militant group seized control of their ancestral homeland in northern Iraq. As a survivor of enslavement herself, Nadia Murad has become a global advocate for Yazidi rights, using her platform to shed light on their plight and call for justice.
The rescue of these six Yazidi women serves as a beacon of hope amidst the ongoing efforts to address the crimes committed by ISIS and restore justice to the Yazidi community. The reunification of these women with their families after nearly nine years brings renewed hope for the discovery and rescue of more individuals who remain missing.
Nadia Murad's plea for international assistance underscores the importance of collective efforts in locating and rescuing the remaining kidnapped Yazidi women and children. With continued collaboration and support from partners around the world, it is hoped that more kidnapped individuals can be brought home and provided with the necessary support to rebuild their lives.
The rescue of these six Yazidi women stands as a testament to the resilience of the Yazidi community and highlights the ongoing commitment to seeking justice for those affected by the atrocities committed by ISIS.
By Kobin Ferhad
