IS militant on trial reveals horrific crimes committed against Ezidis

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – An Islamic State (IS) member who is on trial in northern Iraq has revealed some horrifying crimes the group committed against Yezidi (Ezidi) Kurds.

Mohammed Ahmed, 40, confessed to his role in the militant group’s crimes before the Nineveh investigations court in southern Mosul.

According to court proceedings obtained by the Telegraph, Ahmed was charged with kidnapping and rape, and over 10 murders.

After IS overran the Ezidi-majority area of Sinjar (Shingal) in mid-2014, the militant group committed heinous crimes against the minority.

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

“I shot [Ezidis] there in the school hall,” Ahmed told Judge Arif. “I think I killed 10 or 12 of them, including some children.”

Ahmed acknowledged his role in the kidnapping of Ezidi women, stating he was “following the orders of his [IS] leader.”

The women were taken to Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq and IS’ stronghold in the country at the time.

In Mosul, the women were passed around and sold in the militant group’s slavery trade.

Ahmed said he had four girls whom he kept “in an abandoned house” where he had “sex with a different one” each night.

“Sometimes they seemed scared, but they never said no,” he told the judge. “They were all virgins when I got them and more beautiful than you can imagine.”

Ahmed mentioned the women were part of his monthly salary while fighting with the extremist group.

“I received 60,000 dinars [$595] a month, and the women as a bonus,” he explained.

The militant will face either life imprisonment or capital punishment, the judge said.

Editing by Ava Homa