ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - In the last 24 hours, nearly 70 young men have turned themselves over to Peshmerga forces on the Gwer front. Many of these man describe life in the grip of ISIS as hell.
"They ordered the men to grow beards and hair and to wear short pants. The ISIS leaders behead people because they do not care about anyone or anything. They are not Islamic or human. We escaped to the Kurdistan region because we know we are safe here," one of the group told Rudaw.
Some of those who escaped ISIS say they want to continue their educations, while other say they live with starvation, violence and constant fear.
"At this point, an investigation is underway and it is not clear how many of the those who surrendered were working with ISIS and how many of them truly escaped. Most of their families are still living in areas southeast of Mosul, areas still under ISIS control. As they know, they will be questioned about everything," a Peshmerga officer told Rudaw.
Rudaw correspondent Ranja Jamal reports from the Gwer front.
