19 Yezidis brought home from ISIS captivity
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — At least 19 Yezidis mostly women and young girls were rescued from the Islamic State (ISIS) on Monday after two years in captivity, a Kurdish official told Rudaw.
Hussein Qaidi of the government department for Yezidi rescues said that all 19 captives are from Shingal and taken by ISIS two years ago when the group captured their town.
“ISIS had moved those hostages to Syria and through the efforts of our office they are on their way back to Duhok,” he said.
Kurdish officials have said that hundreds of Yezidis have been rescued or their freedoms bought from ISIS in the last two years.
ISIS militants captured thousands of innocent Yezidi civilians in August 2014 and executed hundreds within hours whose remains have been recently found in mass graves.
Last September Iraqi Yezidi MP Vian Dakhil told Rudaw that 5,820 Kurdish Yezidis were still held captive by ISIS control and nearly 2,200 rescued.
Hussein Qaidi of the government department for Yezidi rescues said that all 19 captives are from Shingal and taken by ISIS two years ago when the group captured their town.
“ISIS had moved those hostages to Syria and through the efforts of our office they are on their way back to Duhok,” he said.
Kurdish officials have said that hundreds of Yezidis have been rescued or their freedoms bought from ISIS in the last two years.
ISIS militants captured thousands of innocent Yezidi civilians in August 2014 and executed hundreds within hours whose remains have been recently found in mass graves.
Last September Iraqi Yezidi MP Vian Dakhil told Rudaw that 5,820 Kurdish Yezidis were still held captive by ISIS control and nearly 2,200 rescued.