VIDEO: Freed Ezidi IS captives ‘ashamed’ of taking off burqa

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – After spending three years in Islamic State (IS) captivity, a Yezidi (Ezidi) family refused to take off the burqa imposed by the extremist group.

Shahnaz is one many Ezidi girls who have been held captive by IS extremists since their attack on the Ezidi-majority Sinjar (Shingal) and surrounding areas in 2014.

Thousands of men were massacred or buried alive while Ezidi women and girls were kidnapped and sold as sex slaves.

After a family member tried to take off Shahnaz’ burqa, a veil which covers the entire body and face, the 12-year-old Ezidi cried out and refused to remove it.

Speaking to Kurdistan 24, Shahnaz’ mother said the militants did horrible things to her and her daughter.

She claimed the militants even forced her to marry a senior Kurdish IS member from Turkey’s Kurdistan (Bakur) in Tal Afar.

Kurdistan 24 correspondent Masoud Mohammed asked Shahnaz’ mother if she could reveal her face in front of the camera, but she refused to take off the burqa.

“I cannot. I am used to wearing it,” she said. “I am ashamed to [show my face].”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

(Additional reporting by Masoud Mohammed from Tal Afar)