ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A government department dedicated to rescuing abducted Yezidis is to be awarded the Mother Teresa prize on Sunday in Mumbai, India.
The Duhok-based Office for Yezidi Abductees’ Affairs has freed 3515 Yezidis who were captured by the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014, including 1983 children, 1193 women and 339 men, according to Hussein Qaidi, the office's Yezidi head.
"Today, on an official invitation from the Harmony Foundation, our office of the rescue of the kidnapped Yezidis will receive one of the ten awards that will be given out later today," Qaidi told Rudaw from Duhok.
Over 7,000 Yezidi were kidnapped by the terror group when the Shingal region of Iraq was attacked in August 2014, in what has been largely accepted as a genocide.
The plight of the Yezidis was brought to renewed attention last year when survivor Nadia Murad was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.
Former prime minister and current president of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani established the office for Yezidi Abductees' Affairs, which has spent thousands of dollars to free members of the religious minority held captive by ISIS.
The Mother Teresa Awards, given in honor of Roman Catholic nun and missionary Mother Teresa, are awarded to celebrate individuals and organizations that promote peace, equality and social justice, and aim to encourage the cause of justice and peaceful coexistence.
This year’s theme focuses on tackling modern slavery.
The award will be accepted by a survivor who works with the department in Duhok, managing files of missing members of her community.
Eman Abdulla, now 18, was abducted in August 2014 and freed from ISIS captivity nine months later.
Born in the village of Tel Qasab in Shingal, she said she was married off three times to ISIS militants before she was freed from clutches of the group.
"This is an important award for us as Yezidis. This award is dedicated for all Yezidi women and girls," Abdulla told Rudaw. "When we were under ISIS, we had lost hope we would once again see our families and be rescued from them.
"What we suffered deserves every recognition and award," she said, adding that she will speak in today's ceremony.
"I will highlight the plights and persecution of our women and girls endured at the hands of Daesh,” she said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. “I am speaking of my story and of all those who were kidnapped and enslaved by Daesh."
Abraham Mathai, chairman of The Harmony Foundation who established the awards 15 years ago, said the department is being awarded the Mother Teresa Award for their tireless work to rescue Yezidis.
"They have the commitment to rescue the remaining who are still enslaved by their captors. This office has worked like crusaders and immensely contributed to rescuing those tricked, trapped, and trafficked," he said.
Nine other activists and organizations are also set to receive awards, according to the Indian Express.
Last year Yezidi survivors Layla Taalo and Idris Bashar Silo Taha were also awarded the prize.
Reporting by Nasir Eli
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