Baghdad, Iraq – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has rescued 3,585 Yazidis from ISIS captivity, including 1,214 women, according to the Office for Kidnapped Yazidis. Hussein Qaidi, the office’s director, confirmed that search operations continue under direct orders from Kurdistan’s President, Nechirvan Barzani.
Qaidi revealed that over 6,200 Yazidis were kidnapped by ISIS, and 2,590 remain missing. Most are believed to be in Syria, while others may be scattered across Iraq and beyond. He urged the international community and humanitarian groups to act urgently, especially to free Yazidi women and children still in captivity.
On International Women’s Day, Qaidi emphasized the importance of global cooperation to rescue the missing Yazidis. He called for stronger international efforts to address this crisis and bring the captives home.
The Yazidi genocide began on August 15, 2014, when ISIS attacked Sinjar, a Yazidi-majority area in northern Iraq. Militants killed hundreds of men and enslaved women and children. Reports estimate that over 6,400 Yazidi women and children were abducted. Women were forced into sexual slavery, while boys were trained as child soldiers.
Despite these horrors, the mission to free Yazidis continues. The Kurdistan Region remains committed to rescuing those still in captivity. Qaidi reassured families that efforts will not stop until every missing Yazidi is found. The world must unite to support the mission to free Yazidis and ensure justice for the survivors.
