BLUF

This article describes the horrifying ordeal of a Yazidi woman, Bahar Elias, who, along with her children, was enslaved by the Islamic State (IS).

Summary

KEY POINTS:

  1. Thousands of Yazidi women and children were enslaved by IS in Iraq and Syria in 2014, with rescue efforts still ongoing.
  2. Bahar Elias, a victim, was sold multiple times and had to serve IS fighters, facing physical and emotional abuse.
  3. Yazidis were considered "infidels" by IS; Bahar's husband and eldest son were presumed executed.
  4. Bahar and her children were rescued through an organized network led by a man called Abu Shuja.
  5. The rescue operation involved complex strategies, including code words and local smugglers.
READ: Fighting to free the women and children enslaved by IS

References