Over 3,000 Ezidis remain in the hands of IS

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kurdish Yezidis (Ezidis) commemorated the second anniversary of the Islamic State (IS) occupation of Sinjar (Shingal) on Wednesday, calling for help to free the Ezidi women that remain in the hands of insurgents.

Ezidis held the commemoration ceremonies at the holy temple of Lalish in Duhok Province and Sharfaddin Shrine in the city of Shingal.

“Yesterday was resistance, today is liberation, and tomorrow is the reconstruction of Shingal to live in peace,” said Mahma Khalil, the Mayor of Shingal, during the ceremony speech.

In June 2014, IS occupied Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq.

Later, in August, the group controlled Shingal where thousands of people fled from the area to Mount Shingal and the Kurdistan Region.

On Oct. 14, 2015, Kurdish Peshmerga forces in cooperation with the US-led coalition warplanes liberated Shingal, labeled as one of the most successful military operations against IS.

Khalil praised the role of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in freeing the city from IS and contributing to the rebuilding of Shingal.

Additionally, he called on the international community to provide more support to reconstruct the city where over 80 percent is destroyed.

Ezidi mothers present during the ceremony asked the KRG and the global community to rescue Ezidi people, especially women that remain in the captivity of the terrorist group.

Moreover, the General Directorate of Ezidi Affairs in the KRG’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs released a statement on the matter.

The report revealed that after IS’ occupation of Shingal, 6,404 persons were captured. 3,538 of them were female, and 2,866 were male.

Besides mass executions, Ezidi women were sold as sex slaves in IS’ black markets. Nearly 340,000 Ezidi people were displaced, according to the statement.

The Directorate also mentioned that since 2014, IS had destroyed around 64 sacred Ezidi religious places in Shingal and surrounding areas.

“Of 6,404 persons who were kidnapped and captured by [IS] terrorists, 2,640 of them have been set free which includes 953 women, 328 men, 674 female children, 684 male children,” the statement continued. 

“Also, 3,770 persons are still in their captivity. 1,914 of this total number are female, 1,856 are male,” the report added.

“According to our sources, 1,400 children are now being trained for combat and suicide attacks,” the statement concluded.

Moreover, the number of orphans due to IS attacks reached 2,745. 33 Ezidi mass graves have also been discovered so far.

Ezidi leaders in Kurdistan praise the role of the KRG and the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani in freeing Ezidi prisoners and rebuilding Shingal.

However, they complain that the Federal Government of Iraq has ignored the city.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany
(Masoud Mohamad and Ni'mat Maronisi contributed to this report from Shingal)