An Overview of the Genocide
Who are the killers?
Daesh (also known as ISIS, ISIL or Islamic State) is a Salafi-Jihadist Sunni organization founded after the American invasion of Iraq. It was previously known as Al-Qaeda’s organization in Iraq. Daesh was responsible for a long list of terrorist attacks against Shiite Muslims and Christians as well as against Iraqi and Western security forces, primarily between 2007 and 2012. In 2014, the organization broke off from Al-Qaeda, and in June its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared the establishment of the “Caliphate of the Islamic State,” appointing himself as its helm.
Daesh is an acronym for the Arabic الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام al-Dawla al-Islamiya fi Iraq wa al-Sham, meaning the Islamic Dynasty of Iraq and Syria. At that time, Daesh ruled over one-third of Syria, including the northeast portion, and half of Iraq, including the north. Its members became notorious for their relentless brutality. They disseminated many videos in which they are seen indiscriminately slaughtering scores of civilians and mutilating their bodies. Daesh murders Sunni Muslims who are considered to be infidels in their eyes, including Sunni leaders, clergyman and clerks. They also murder Shiites, Assyrians, Hazaras, Christians, Alawites and Yezidis.
Following the capture of the city of Mosul it was reported that hundreds of thousands of Christians – whose families have lived in Mosul for 1,600 years – fled after Daesh demanded that they convert to Islam or be put to death. The number of Christian victims is not known, but it is clear that Daesh has slaughtered thousands since last June.
Less then two months later, Daesh attacked the district of Sinjar in Northern Iraq where most of the Yezidis resided. The Yezidi people were given a slightly different choice. In case of Christians they were to convert, pay a protection tax, leave, or be killed. With Yezidis the choice was – either to convert or be put to death. The members of Daesh have nicknamed the Yezidis “worshippers of Satan” and have called for Yezidis to be murdered wherever they are found.
Listen to this radio interview to have an idea of what is ISIS’s thinking and their goal
This video also explains some of the background
Siege of Mount Sinjar
Estimates of 200,000 Yezidi refugees fled to the Sinjar ridge, where they were exposed to the blistering sun in temperatures of 120 degrees – without water, food or medicine. The state of the refugees was dire, especially as ISIS militants sealed the ridge from all directions and basic humanitarian aid could not be delivered by land. It was reported that ISIS militants penetrated the ridge. Presently murdering Yezidi men and kidnapping Yezidi women.
Approximately 120 infants and elderly civilans died of thirst and heatstroke, and on others who are immobilized as a result of exhaustion and various diseases on the first two days of the siege. On August 6th it was reported that hundreds of women belonging to the Yezidi community in Iraq were kidnapped. The spokesperson for Iraq’s Human Rights Ministry, Kamil Amin, estimated that the women—all under the age of 35—were held in schools across Mosul. American intelligence officials confirmed this report.
What Happened to the Established Government?
Read the article below about why Yezidis feel betrayed by the Kurdish government and it’s Peshmargas…..
The Islamic State’s recent attack upon the Sinjar area of Ninewa province has brought world attention to the plight of Iraq’s Yazidis. Insurgents have targeted the small religious group . . .http://musingsoniraq.blogspot.ca/2014/09/the-plight-of-iraqs-yazidis-in-ninewa.html
America’s Involvement- August 7th
On August 7th, US President Barack Obama instructed the American air force to strike ISIS militants both in order to protect American military officials and advisers (stationed in the city of Erbil in northern Iraq), and to thwart the entrapment of the Yezidis who had fled to the mountains of Sinjar. In a special address to the nation Obama stated that American planes have already begun dropping water and food meant for the Yezidis, “who face the horrible decision to either descend from the mountain, which would result in their slaughter, or to stay on the mountain, which would result in a slow death from thirst and hunger.”
Obama noted that the United States cannot stand by in light of the threat of mass murder facing the Yezidis, and that it is in her power to act “with caution and responsibility to prevent a potential genocide.”
The Result of Attack on Sinjar
Yezidi Women Kidnapped and Sold as Sex Slaves
The nightmare of ISIS persecution continues for thousands of Yezidi girls and women who were abducted by the Sunni Muslim extremist group .
ISIL (ISIS) has abducted about 7,000 Yezidis, mostly women and children. ISIL relocates abductees to different regions where they are offered for sale as sexual slaves, to date, tens of women have been killed while some committed suicide to protect their dignity.
According to eyewitness accounts available to ezidiPress women and children are held captive in hundreds in and partly outside the region of Shingal (Sinjar), including many underage girls. The victims´ relatives could contact the kidnapped women several times via phone, being always told of brutal rapes and abuses. The women begged for U.S. air strikes to be released from their agony.
Dozens of women that were kidnapped and raped by IS terrorists committed suicide after their release or liberation. Many women and children have been deported to the IS controlled military airport of Tal Afar. Buses and trucks full of women and children have been taken away, eyewitnesses told Iraqi officials. According to the Red Crescent in Iraq many of these women and children will be sold at slave markets in Mosul. With reference to refugees the Guardian reported that some of them were sold as sex slaves for a few dollars.
Sunni-Arab eyewitnesses reported that more than 1000 women and children have been kidnapped from the village of Tel Kucho. On August 16 and 17 IS terrorists carried out a massacre in that village, killing at least 400 men.
The Yezidi MP Viyan Dekhil pointed out that up to 600 women were being held captive in prisons located in the Nineveh region. The politician Kheri Shingali speaks of another 300 women and children kidnapped by IS. He was told that the women and children were brought temporarily to Syria and then back to Iraq.
The Yezidi women and children are held captive; we are aware of their locations and the atrocities committed there. Yet, no one has attempted to librate them.
Father Sees Daughter After Many Months of Captivity
The following videos show return of some of the hostages and reuniting with their families after months of being in ISIS hand.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=751488814918443
Missing or Killed
Islamic State militants have killed more than 3000 Yezidi men
312 Yezidi men were executed in Tel Kucho senior officials have reported to SkyNews . The day before, ISIS terrorists executed more than 100 men as they refused to convert to Islam.
There are many who were separated from their families. One man told GlobalPost, “They were firing at us as we were running away from our home. There was total chaos.”
“We lost my little Alifa and my son Imad on the way. I don’t know where they are, I don’t know if we’ll ever find them again,” he said, struggling for breath as he fought back the tears.
“why should I live? I have lost my whole family.”
Homeless/Displaced
The Displaced Yezidi face a humanitarian crisis; hundreds of thousands are shelterless and suffer from lack of nutrition and health related issues. Yezidi children are the most vulnerable class.
In a press release, the Central Council of Yezidis in Germany indicated that there are 430,000 displaced Yezidis scattered in Iraq, Syria and Turkey. A delegation consisting of the Central Council of Yezidis in Germany, the Association of Kurdish Doctors in Germany and Yezidi intellectuals is currently inspecting the refugee camps.
Telim Tolan, Chairman of the Central Council of Yezidis in Germany, traveled to Iraq after enquiring about the refugee situation in Turkey. He travels on behalf of a task force of Yezidi associations and organizations from Germany to assess the situation of refugees on the ground. The initiated humanitarian aids had reached the refugees only to around 10 percent, the task force announced in its lastpress release.
Even the inhabitants of Kurdistan who reportedly campaign for the refugees with full dedication can only absorb slightly the mass of refugees. Because, in addition to Yezidis, tens of thousands of Christians, Turkmens, Shabaks, Mandeans , Yarsanis and even moderate Sunnis are also on the run from ISIS. Moreover, there are further tens of thousands of refugees from Syria in Kurdistan who fled due to the Syrian civil war.
More than half of the Yezidi population in Iraq is on the run since the IS terrorists´ onslaught on Shingal. 120,000 refugees are located in the border region of Zakho, trying to cross the border into Turkey.
Now that winter is advancing, below is the situation at some of the camps (Khanke)
Will Yezidis survive the winter in these camps?
Traumatized
Refugees who were trapped in the mountains and managed to escape due to an escape corridor established by YPG and PKK units are severely traumatized by their experiences. Many of them do not want to return. Their homeland´s ground is soaked in blood of their loved ones. Their homes are destroyed, and they are deprived of their future.
They consistently report how they witnessed such mass killings. In many cases Yezidis had to watch their relatives being beheaded in front of their eyes. “We´re done with this country”, said a Yezidi villager who escaped to the Kurdish areas of Turkey.
According to the doctors, it cannot be ruled out that the current situation might cause mass suicides because of severe traumatic experiences the refugees had to go through. Thousands of refugees are in danger of dying even in the refugee camps. Around 20 people have already died in a small refugee camp in Zakho, ARD reported.
Disabled Yezidi refugee boy ‘abandoned in desert’ and family having to deal with the choices they made.
Destruction/Loss of Property
In Jedale
ISIS terrorists have destroyed a sanctuary built in compliment to the Yezidi saint Sheikh Mend in the town of Jedale. Both news agencies and Yezidis from the region confirm this report. The village is located south of the Shingal mountains and west of the same-named town of Shingal.
In Bashiqa
ISIS terrorists have destroyed all Yezidi shrines built in compliment to the Yezidi saints Sheikh Hasan and Sheikh Shems in Bashiqa. There is talk of at least three destroyed shrines. Last night, terrorists reportedly used explosives to blow up the shrines, several eyewitnesses and journalists consistently confirm.
Bashiqa is located in the Sheikhan which is part of the Kurdistan region.
There are also many reports of Arab tribes looting the Yezidis abondened houses. Furthermore, there were also report of ISIS burning down the houses.
Help Save Yezidis From Extincation. Help Stop the Tragedy Taking Place in Iraq
Spread of ISIS’s Ideology
If we don’t stop them no one will be safe
Gallery Depicting the Plight of Yezidis
