JINHA

NEWS CENTER - YPJ/YPG forces have rescued 13 Êzidî women and children from Daesh captivity.

On August 3, 2014, Daesh launched an attack on the city of Shengal. The Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq rules the Shengal area, home to the Êzidî religious group. Daesh slaughtered thousands of men and boys in their assault on the city. They kidnapped thousands of women and children. More than 5,000 remain in Daesh captivity.

YPG/YPJ forces have rescued three women and ten children from Daesh captivity. 42-year-old Fatma Umer was among the women rescued.

"The KDP peshmerga left us defenseless," said Fatma, referring to the military forces of the Kurdish Regional Government. Fatma's family tried to flee Shengal, but Daesh cut them off on the way. Fatma described being repeatedly transferred between Daesh holding pens in Iraq and Syria.

46-year-old Leyla Hesen said that Daesh forced children to convert to Islam.

"The ones who didn't accept conversion, they killed," said Leyla. "I cut off my daughter's hair and said she was insane so that they didn't take her from me."

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