a call for accountability and protection: yezidi survivors ... · a call for accountability and...

OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION FOR IRAQ – HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE

A Call for Accountability and Protection: Yezidi Survivors of Atrocities Committed by

ISIL

August2016

ACallforAccountabilityandProtection:YezidiSurvivorsofAtrocitiesCommittedbyISIL

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Contents

I. Introduction...........................................................................................................................................4

II. Methodology........................................................................................................................................5

III. Background.........................................................................................................................................6

IV. LegalFramework.................................................................................................................................7

V. HumanRightsAbusesbyISILagainsttheYezidibetweenAugust2014andJune2016.......................8

1. Forceddisplacement.........................................................................................................................8

2. Forcedconversions.........................................................................................................................10

3. Abduction,deprivationofliberty,andcruel,inhumaneanddegradingtreatment.......................11

4. Systematicandwidespreadkillings................................................................................................12

5. Sexualviolence/sexualslavery......................................................................................................14

VI. Massgraves.......................................................................................................................................17

VII. SupporttoYezidisurvivorsandtheirfamilies.................................................................................17

VIII. ConclusionandRecommendations................................................................................................18

Annex:Glossary..........................................................................................................................................21


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‘’TwoyearsafterthefallofNinewa,theYezidicommunitycontinuetobetargetedbyISILforarangeofcrimes.Thousandsofmen,womenandchildrenhavebeenkilledoraremissing,orremainincaptivitywheretheyaresubjectedtounspeakablesexualandphysicalabuse.ThoseforcedtoconverttoIslamremainunderclosesupervisionbyISIL.Manymenwhorefusedtoconverthavebeenmurdered,while

womenandyounggirlsandboys,havebeensoldasslavestoISILfighters.Placesofreligiousandculturalsignificancehavebeensystematicallydestroyed.ThegraphicnatureofthetestimonyprovidedbywitnessesandsurvivorspresentedinthisreportclearlydemonstratethewidespreadandsystematicmannerinwhichISILhascommittedtheseatrocitiesagainsttheYezidiandotherethnicandreligiouscommunities.Facedwithsuchevidence,itisofparamountimportanceforthevictimsandsurvivorsofthesecrimes,asdemandedbythecollectiveconscienceofhumanity,thattheperpetratorsofthese

heinousactsarefullyandproperlyheldtoaccount.’’

−Mr.JánKubiš

SpecialRepresentativeoftheUnitedNationsSecretary-GeneralforIraq,15August2016,Baghdad

“Iamprofoundlyconcernedatthegraveimpactthatthecurrentconflictishavingoncivilians,particularlyonpeoplefromIraq’sancientanddiverseethnicandreligiouscommunities.Theexperiences

recountedbysurvivorsanddocumentedinthisreportrevealactsofinhumanityandcrueltyonanunimaginablescalethatconstituteaseriousanddeliberateattackonthemostfundamentalhumanrightsandareanaffronttohumanityasawhole.Tothegreatestextentpossible,OHCHRandUNAMIhavedocumentedmanyoftheseviolationsandabusesofhumanrights,andwillcontinuetodoso,withaviewtohelpingrestoredignitytothevictimsandsurvivorsandasameansofensuringjustice.The

testimoniesrecordedinthisreportserveasaclarioncalltoallmembersoftheinternationalcommunitythatnoeffortsmustbesparedinensuringaccountabilityfortheseterriblecrimesandtosendaclear

messagethatnoonemayperpetratethemwithimpunity.”

-Mr.ZeidRa'adAlHussein

UnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRights,15August2016,Geneva


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I . Introduction

InAugust2014,theso-calledIslamicStateofIraqandtheLevant(ISIL)sweptacrossnorthernIraq.Overthecourseoftheattack,ISILmemberssystematicallytargetedmembersoftheYezidicommunity,killingand capturing thousands from their villages located in Ninewa Governorate. Tens of thousands ofresidents fled first to Sinjar Mountain, while many others fled towards Dohuk Governorate of theKurdistanRegionofIraq(KR-I).

Since that time, an estimated 360,0001 Yezidi remain displaced, unable to return to their places oforigin. They continue to live in dozens of camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) or in hostcommunitieslocatedthroughouttheKR-I.

TheHumanRightsOfficeof theUnitedNationsAssistanceMission for Iraq (UNAMI)and theOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRights(OHCHR)havemonitoredthesituationoftheYezidi,documentingtheirexperiencessincetheattackonSinjarinAugust2014.IndividualsandfamiliesinterviewedbyUNAMI/OHCHRrenderedaccountsoftheirterrifiedandchaoticflightfromtheirhomesand thehorrors theywitnessedandexperienced. InBa’aj,Mosul, TelAfar andother areasunder ISILcontrol,manyYezidiwerekilledduringtheinitialattackandthousandswerecaptured.Menandwomenweresystematicallyseparated,withgirlsandyoungwomenoftenthenfurtherseparatedfromtheolderwomenandforcedintosexualslavery.2Individualsrepeatedlydescribedhowtheyhadbeensubjectedtoforcedlabourandill-treatment,mainlyinTelAfarDistrict,NinewaGovernorate,whileotherstoldofbeingtraffickedintoSyriaandsoldto ISILmembersThousandsofYezidiremainmissing.Furthermore,shrines, andother sitesof religious and cultural significance for the Yezidiwere alsodeliberately andsystematicallydestroyedbyISILinanattempttoeradicatethereligious,physicalandmaterialcultureoftheYezidipeople3.

TheevidenceandinformationgatheredbyUNAMI/OHCHRconcerninggrossabusesofhumanrightsandviolations of international humanitarian law detailed in this report support the conclusion that thesehave been committed in a systematic andwidespreadmanner, targeting and seeking to destroy theYazidigroup,inwholeorinpart.4Asinpreviousreports5,UNAMI/OHCHRnotesthatmanyofthecrimes

1Estimatesobtainedfromlocalgovernmentauthorities:May2016.2TheIndependentInternationalCommissionofInquiryontheSyrianArabRepublicalsoissuedareporton15June2016,entitled“TheyCametoDestroy:ISISCrimesAgainsttheYazidis”(A/HC/32/CRP.2),inwhichitdescribedthetreatmentoftheYezidiandmadeanumberofrecommendationstotheUnitedNations,theGovernmentsofSyriaandIraq,andthewiderinternationalcommunityconcerningtheprotectionofandcarefortheYezidicommunityofSinjarDistrictt.FurtherinformationisavailableonthewebpagededicatedtotheCommission:www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/IICISyria/Pages/IndependentInternationalCommission.aspx3PreviouslyreportedinUNAMI/OHCHRpublicreports.Seeforexample,UNAMI/OHCHRReportontheProtectionofCiviliansinArmedConflictinIraq,11September–10December2014,page12,availableathttp://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IQ/UNAMI_OHCHR_Sep_Dec_2014.pdf4InreferencetotheYezidi(whomISILrefertoasmushirkin–‘thosewhocommitthesinofidolatry/paganism(shirk)’),ISILhasmadeitsintentionscleartodestroythepopulationorforciblyconvertthem,boththroughitsactionsandtheviolationsdirectlytargeting themas outlined in this report, and also in their publications. For example, InDabiq, ISIL’smagazine, theywrote:“UponconqueringtheregionofSinjarinWilāyatNīnawā,theIslamicStatefacedapopulationofYazidis[sic],apaganminorityexistentforagesinregionsofIraqandShām.TheircontinualexistencetothisdayisamatterthatMuslimsshouldquestionastheywill beaskedabout iton JudgmentDay, considering thatAllahhad revealed yatas-Sayf (theverseof the sword)over1400yearsago.Heta’ālāsaid,“Andwhenthesacredmonthshavepassed,thenkillthemushrikīnwhereveryoufindthem,andcapturethem,andbesiegethem,andsitinwaitforthemateveryplaceofambush.Butiftheyshouldrepent,establishprayer,andgivezakah, letthem[go]ontheirway.Indeed,AllahisForgivingandMerciful.[At-Tawbah:5].…Accordingly,theIslamicStatedealtwiththisgroupasthemajorityoffuqahā’haveindicatedhowmushrikīnshouldbedealtwith.UnliketheJewsandChristians, there was no room for jizyah payment. Also, their women could be enslaved unlike female apostates who the


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committed by ISILmay amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possibly genocide. Thisremainstobesubjecttothedeterminationofanindependentandcompetentcourt.

Since the advance of ISIL in Northern Iraq, UNAMI and OHCHR have issued five reports6 on theprotection of civilians in relation to the ongoing conflict in Iraq, documenting violations and abusesagainstmen,womenandchildrenfromallethnicandreligiouscommunities.ThesecommunitieshavebeensystematicallytargetedforpersecutionbyISILaspartofanongoingpolicythataimstosuppress,permanentlyexpel,ordestroymanyofthesecommunitieswithinISILareasofcontrol.7

I I . Methodology

ThisreportispublishedjointlybyUNAMIandOHCHRundertheirrespectivemandates.8Theinformationcontainedinthisreportisbasedonaccountsobtaineddirectlyfromsurvivorsandwitnessesofabusesofinternationalhumanrightslawand/orseriousviolationsofinternationalhumanitarianlawgatheredbyUNAMIhumanrightsinvestigatorssincetheattackonSinjarinAugust2014.Informationisincludedinthisreportonlyifinformedconsentwasobtainedfromthesurvivor/witnesstodoso,andthenonlyifithasbeenassessedthatthereisnoprotectionrisk/concernsposedbyitsdisclosure.

Informationwas alsoobtained froma variety of sources, includingGovernment andnon-governmentagenciesandorganizations,andUnitedNationsentities.

ThesecuritysituationinIraqcontinuestonegativelyimpactUNAMI/OHCHRcapacitytoundertakedirectmonitoringandverificationofincidents.Inparticular,UNAMI/OHCHRcontinuestoencounterdifficultiesin verifying incidents in areas controlled by ISIL. Examples of violations and abuses contained in thisreport areemblematic anddonotpresenta comprehensiveaccountof all abusesandviolations thatwerereportedtoUNAMI/OHCHRandverified.

majorityofthefuqahā’saycannotbeenslavedandcanonlybegivenanultimatumtorepentorfacethesword.Aftercapture,the Yazidi women and childrenwere then divided according to the Sharī’ah amongst the fighters of the Islamic StatewhoparticipatedintheSinjaroperations,afteronefifthoftheslavesweretransferredtotheIslamicState’sauthoritytobedividedaskhums(‘spoilsofwar’tributetoIslamicmilitaryleadership).TheenslavedYazidifamiliesarenowsoldbytheIslamicStatesoldiers as the mushrikīn were sold them.”: ISIL Dabiq, 1435, Issue 4: ‘The Failed Crusade’, p. 14 Available athttp://media.clarionproject.org/files/islamic-state/islamic-state-isis-magazine-Issue-4-the-failedcrusade.pdf5InlinewithUNAMI/OHCHRfindingsaswellasoftheOHCHRFactFindingMission(reportA/HRC/28/18ofMarch2015).6From5Juneto5July2014,6Julyto10September,11Septemberto10December2014,11December2014to30April2015,and1Mayto31October2015.Reportsareavailableonwww.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/UNAMIHRReports.aspx7Otherethnicandreligiouscommunities,suchasChristians,Shabaks,Turkomen,SabaeanMandaeans,Kaka’e,FailiKurdsandother groups were also targeted. UNAMI/OHCHRwill continue to document the violations and abuses perpetrated againstthesecommunitiesandintendtopublishitsfindingsinfuturereports.8 Inresolution1770of10August2006,theUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilrequestedUNAMIto“promotetheprotectionofhumanrightsandjudicialandlegalreforminordertostrengthentheruleoflawinIraq…”(Paragraph2(c)).UNAMImandatewas extended in the same terms for 2015/2016by Security Council resolution 2233of 29 July 2015. In accordancewith itsmandate,UNAMIHumanRightsOfficeconductsarangeofactivitiesaimedatpromotingtheprotectionofcivilians inarmedconflict, includingundertaking independentand impartialmonitoringof,andreportingon,armedviolenceand its impactonciviliansandonviolationsofinternationalhumanitarianlawandinternationalhumanrightslaw.


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I I I . Background

Over thecourseof2013, ISILsteadily increased itsscopeofoperationsthroughout Iraq.Between lateDecember 2013 and April 2014, ISIL expanded its control through Anbar Governorate. By early June2014,ISILwasattackingareasofNinewa,Salahal-Din,andDiyalaGovernorates9.

On10June2014,ISILgainedfullcontroloverMosulcity,Ninewa,sparkingamassexodusofasmanyas500,000people.10On23June2014,ISILseizedTelAfarcity.ThroughoutJuly2014,hostilitiescontinuedbetween ISIL and affiliated armed groups on the one hand and Iraqi and Kurdish security forces andassociatedarmedgroupsontheotherthroughoutNinewa,includingSinjarandTelAfardistrictsandtheNinewaPlains.

Between 2 and 3August 2014, ISIL advanced rapidly throughout Tel Afar and Sinjar districts. KurdishPeshmerga forces withdrew to defensive positions along the Kurdish border of Dohuk Governorate,wherefightingwentonforseveraldaysovercontroloftheMosulDam.

ThefallofSinjaron3August2014,aswellasthedirecttargetingofciviliansbyISIL,triggeredamassivedisplacement of civilians. The estimated population of Sinjar District in 2014was 308,315,whoweremainlymembersoftheYezidicommunity.11From4to8August2014,nearly200,000peoplefledtotheKR-I or to the disputed border areas insideNinewa that remainedunder control of the Peshmerga.12TensofthousandsofotherstookrefugeonSinjarMountainwheretheywerebesiegedbyISIL.Reportswere received that thosewho tried to leave theMountainwere attackedby ISIL.With temperaturesabove 40 degrees celsius, the humanitarian situation became dire, with a critical shortage of water,food,shelter,andhealthservices.13Informationatthetimeindicatedthatcasualtiesincludedasmanyas 40 children who may have died on the Mountain as a result of exposure and lack of medicaltreatment.14

On8August2014,theIraqiandUnitedStatesAirForcesdeliveredfoodandotherhumanitarianreliefbyairdrop to the civilians trappedonMount Sinjar.On14August2014,with theassistanceof airstrikescarriedoutbyUnitedStatesAirForce,forcesfromtheKurdishPeople’sProtectionUnitsbasedinSyria(Yekîneyên Parastina Gel or “YPG”) with PKK (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê / KurdishWorkers' Party)wereabletoopenacorridortoSinjarMountain.Approximately55,000people,includingthemajorityofthose displaced on SinjarMountain, reportedly crossed over tomore secure areas inside Syria.MostwerethenabletoreturntoIraqthroughthePeshKhabourcrossingpointwiththeKR-I.15

9 For amoredetailedbackground to the current armed conflict in Iraq, seepreviousUNAMI/OHCHR reports:Reporton theProtectionofCiviliansintheNonInternationalArmedConflictinIraq:5June–5July2014;ReportontheProtectionofCiviliansin Armed Conflict in Iraq: 6 July – 10 September 2014; Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Iraq: 11September–10December2014;ReportontheProtectionofCivilians inArmedConflict in Iraq:11December2014–30April2015; Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Iraq: 1 May – 31 October 2015. All available online at:http://www.uniraq.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=category&id=164&Itemid=650&lang=en.10OCHA,Iraq:HumanitarianDashboard(asof29June2014).11OCHAFlashUpdate:IraqCrisis-SignificantDisplacementfromSinjar,No.1|3August2014,availableathttp://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/ocha-flash-update-iraq-crisis-significant-displacement-sinjar-no-1-3-august-2014.12OHCA,IraqIDPCrisis,SituationReportNo.6(2-8August2014).13 OCHA Flash Update: Iraq Crisis - Significant Displacement from Sinjar, No. 2 | 4 August 2014, available athttp://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/ocha-flash-update-iraq-crisis-significant-displacement-sinjar-no-2-4-august-2014.14 See UNICEF, Statement on child deaths in Iraq; attributable to Marzio Babille, UNICEF Representative, 5 August 2014,availableathttp://www.unicef.org/media/media_74676.htm.15OHCA,IraqIDPCrisis,SituationReportNo.7(9August–15August2014).


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Sources estimate that between 2,000 and 5,500 Yezidi have been killed by ISIL since 3 August 2014.Accordingtoalocalauthority,approximately6,386YezidiwereabductedbyISILmembersonorafter3August2014(3,537womenand2,859men).Bymid-May2016,2,587Yezidihadreportedlymanagedtoescape ISIL captivity (934women; 325men; 658 girls; 670 boys). At the time of writing some 3,799remainedinISILcaptivity(1,935womenand1,864men).UNAMI/OHCHRwasnotabletoindependentlyverifythesefigures.

IV. Legal Framework

TherelevantinternationallegalframeworkapplicableinIraqcomprisesinternationalhumanrightslaw(IHRL)andinternationalhumanitarianlaw(IHL).16

IHRL,whether treaty-basedor found incustomary international law,continues toapplyduringanon-international armed conflict. IHRL imposes direct responsibility on the State in whose territory andunderwhosejurisdictionviolationsorabusestakeplace.Iraqhastheobligationtoensurethatactionistakensothatviolationsorabusesarepreventedandnotrepeated,toinvestigatepromptly,effectivelyandindependently,toholdthoseresponsibletoaccount,andtoensureanadequateremedyisprovidedto the victims. While non-State actors, including armed groups, cannot formally become parties tointernational human rights treaties, non-State actors such as ISIL and associated armed groups,exercising government-like functions and control over territory,must respect human rights standardswhentheirconductaffectsthehumanrightsofindividualsundertheircontrol.

AllpartiestotheconflictareboundbytheapplicablerulesofIHL,includingcustomaryrules.Amongthemostimportantaretheprinciplesofdistinction,proportionality,andtherequirementtotakeallfeasibleprecautionstoavoid,andinanyeventtominimize,theimpactofviolenceoncivilians.SeriousviolationsoftreatyandcustomaryIHLmayconstitutewarcrimes.17

Certain acts, including murder, torture, rape and sexual slavery, and enforced disappearance, whencommittedaspartof awidespreador systematic attackdirectedagainst any civilianpopulation,withknowledgeof theattack,may constitutea crimeagainsthumanity.18 Specific crimes suchas killingorcausingseriousbodilyormentalharmstomembersofanational,ethnic,racialorreligiousgroup,whencommittedwiththeintenttodestroythegroup,inwholeorinpart,mayconstitutegenocide.19 16 Iraq isaparty, interalia, tothe: InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR),theInternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights;theInternationalConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination;theConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegradingTreatmentorPunishment;theInternationalConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen;theConventionontheRightsoftheChild,includingitsOptionalProtocols on the involvement of children in armed conflict, and on the sale of children, child prostitution and childpornography;theConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities;theInternationalConventionfortheProtectionofAllPersonsfromEnforcedDisappearance;andtheFourGenevaConventionsandAdditionalProtocolItotheGenevaConventions.17 Grave breaches of the Geneva Convention and violation of rules 156, 158 of humanitarian customary law (study oncustomaryinternationalhumanitarianlaw).18Seearticles5oftheICTY,3oftheICTRandArticle7(1),RomeStatuteoftheInternationalCriminalCourt.19TheConventiononthePreventionandPunishmentoftheCrimeofGenocide(CPPCG)wasadoptedbytheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyon9December1948andcame intoeffecton12 January1951 (Resolution260 (III)).Article2:Anyof thefollowingactscommittedwithintenttodestroy,inwholeorinpart,anational,ethnical,racialorreligiousgroup,assuch:killingmembersof thegroup;causingseriousbodilyormentalharmtomembersof thegroup;deliberately inflictingon thegroupconditionsoflife,calculatedtobringaboutitsphysicaldestructioninwholeorinpart;imposingmeasuresintendedtopreventbirthswithinthegroup;[and]forciblytransferringchildrenofthegrouptoanothergroup.Article6oftheRomeStatuteoftheInternational Criminal Court provides that "genocide"means any of the following acts committedwith intent to destroy, inwholeor inpart, anational, ethnical, racialor religiousgroup,as such (a)Killingmembersof thegroup; (b)Causing serious


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V. Human Rights Abuses committed by ISIL against the Yezidibetween August 2014 and June 2016

1. Forced displacement

In the early hours of 3 August 2014, ISIL advanced across Sinjar District, surrounding and capturingvillages including Khana Sor complex, Tal Azer, Tal Banat, Tal Qasab complex, Solakhi and Wardiya.Multiple interviewees reported that they had decided to leave their homes upon learning of theadvance of ISIL. Thousands made their way to Mount Sinjar – with up to 35,000-50,000 individualstrappedon theMountainby4August 2014, surroundedby ISIL.20Up to6,300Yezidi, however,wereabducted,orkilledbyISILbeforetheycouldreachsafety.

OnewitnessfromTalQasabcomplex,southofSinjar,reportedthatintheearlyhoursof3August2014,he began receiving calls from relatives throughout Sinjar District, reporting that ISIL had taken overseveral districts. By6:00am, they could see ISILmembers in cars about two to three kilometres fromtheir village; ISIL then began shooting into the village. The witness, his family, and 35 other Yezidifamiliesdecidedto flee.They joinedhundredsofvehicles tryingtoget toSinjarMountain.Thecrowdwassohugethatpeopleabandonedtheirvehiclestowalk.

TwovehiclescarryingISILmemberseventuallystoppedthewitness.ISILmembers,reportedlyspeakingwithIraqiaccentsandwearing“Afghan”21clothing–alongtunicoverwidepants,allofthesamecolour–askedwhytheywereleaving,addingtheywouldnotbeharmediftheyturnedovertheircellphonesandweapons.ThewitnessandhisfamilydecidedtogotoSinjarcity.Atacheckpointintothecity,theysawthebodyofaYezidimanfromKochovillageandweretoldhehadbeenkilledbecauseISILmembersfoundweaponsinhiscar.Atthatpoint,menandwomenwereseparated.Almost350Yezidimenweredeprivedoftheirlibertyonthesecondfloorofthemunicipalitybuilding,whilealmost2,000womenandchildrenwereputinthebackyardofthebuilding.

Many families kept arriving all day. Around 9:00pm, thewitness heardwomen screaming and cryingfromoutside andwas later told that ISIL had taken500 youngYezidi girls – includinghis 13 year olddaughter–andhadputthemonbusesandtakenthemaway.Monthslater,asympatheticISILmemberputhim intouchwithaman inMosulwhohadboughthisdaughter for600USdollars.Shewas laterreturned to the family while theywere being held by ISIL in a village in Tel Afar District, whichwaspreviouslyinhabitedbyShi’aTurkomenwhohadfledpriortotheattack.

Anotherwitness,fromTalQasabcomplex–southofSinjarcomposedofsome2,500to3,000houses–reported that on the morning of 3 August 2014, ISIL attacked the complex with mortars and heavyweapons.ResidentshadnotbeenawareoftheimpendingattackuntilISILarrived.Peshmergapresentinthe village, alongwith both Yezidi andMuslimmen from the village, resisted for three or four hoursagainst ISIL’sonslaught,but theywereonlyarmedwithKalashnikovsand couldnotholdout.Around9:00am,theresidentsfled.

bodilyormentalharmtomembersofthegroup; (c)Deliberately inflictingonthegroupconditionsof lifecalculatedtobringabout its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposingmeasures intended to prevent births within the group; (e)Forciblytransferringchildrenofthegrouptoanothergroup.20OCHAFlashUpdate:IraqCrisis-SignificantDisplacementfromSinjar,No.2|4August2014,availableathttp://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/ocha-flash-update-iraq-crisis-significant-displacement-sinjar-no-2-4-august-2014.Somesourcesatthetimewereestimatingthatasmanyas200,000individualsmayhavesoughtrefugeontheMountain.21Asdescribedbythewitness.


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As she fled, the witness saw men, who she identified as being from the neighbouring Arab village,wearing“Afghan-style”clothing,whoweretheonesattackingthevillage.AsthewitnessandherfamilyweremakingtheirwayupMountSinjar,theywerestoppedbythreeISILmembersintwowhitetrucks.TheycarriedmachinegunsandtoldtheminArabicnottorunandthatiftheyconvertedtoIslamtheywouldbeprotected.Thatevening,thewitness’13year-olddaughterwastakenfromherandlatersold;thewitnessherselfwasheldcaptiveuntilherescapeapproximatelyninemonthslater.

Anotherwitnessreportedthat,around7:00amon3August2014,herfathercalledhertowarnherthatISILwasapproaching;shedidnothearanysoundsoffightingasthePeshmergahadalreadywithdrawnfromhervillageofTalAzer,SinjarDistrict.AsshefledonfootwithherfamilytoSinjarMountain,theirgroupofabout400YezidiwereinterceptedbyISILmembersinWardiyavillage.TheYezidiwerelinedupwhiletheISILmembersaimedtheirgunsatthem.Theirmoney,identificationdocuments,andgoldweretaken.Onepregnantwomantriedtohidesomeofhergoldandwasshotinthestomachanddied.Thewitness reportedseeing thebodiesofdeadmen“everywhere” inWardiyavillage.Thewitnesswas inshock,notabletobelievewhatwashappening,andreportedthattheoldmenwerecryingjustlikethewomenandchildren.

Onewitnessreportedthat,whiletryingtofleeTalAzervillagewithherhusbandandsixchildren,theyjoineda long lineof cars filledwith Yezidi fromall over SinjarDistrict.When they arrivednear SinjarMountain,theywerestoppedbywhatappearedtobemembersofthePeshmerga–theywerewearingPeshmerga uniforms and spoke Kurdish in the local Kurmanji accent. They told the witness and herfamilytogetintowhatappearedtobePeshmergatrucks,joiningmanyYezidifromtheothercars.Afterthey got into the vehicles, othermen arrivedwhom thewitness recognized asmembers of ISIL; sherealizedthatwhatshethoughtwerePeshmergawereinfactISILmembersindisguise.Thewitnesswastaken to a building in Sinjar citywhere theywere held for seven days; along theway, they saw thebodiesofsevenYezidimenlayingontheground.

Anotherwitnessreportedthat,afterhavinginitiallystayedinWardiyavillagebecauseshebelievedISIL’sclaim that theywould not kill civilians, the villageMukhtarwarned them that ISILwas lying andwasintendingtokillthemenandtakethewomenandchildren.Herfamilyof21peopledecidedtofleetoSinjarMountainon5August2014.As theyweremakingtheirwayby foot in themiddleof thenight,theycouldhearaYezidimancallingthemfromadistance.Thewitnessadvisedherfamilytowaitincaseheneededhelp.Astheywaited,threecarswith10ISILmembersapproached,shootingintheair.Theyrealizedthatithadbeenatrap;latertheYezidimanapologizedtoher,claimingthathehadbeenheldatgunpointandthreatenedwithdeathifhedidnotstopthegroup.

Althoughmany Yezidimanaged to reachMount Sinjar, the situation on theMountainwas extremelydifficult. Therewere thousands of Yezidi trapped on the top of theMountain,with no humanitariansupplies. One witness, who had been separated from his wife and four children as they fled, toldUNAMI/OHCHRthathewastrappedontheMountainwithonesonforfivedayswiththousandsofotherYezidi.Hesawthreewomenand10childrendiefromthirstandhunger.HelaterlearnedthathisotherfamilymembershadbeentakenbyISIL.UntilAugust2015,thewitnesssaidhehadsomecontactwithhiswife and children, and he hadmanaged to discover that one of his daughters had been taken toRaqqa,Syria.However,sinceAugust2015,hehashadnoinformationabouttheirwhereabouts.

Anotherwitness reportedthatwhenhis family leftKhanaSorcomplex,SinjarDistrict,at8:00amon3August2014,theydidnottakeenoughfoodorwaterastheythoughttheywouldsoonreturnhome.HereportedthatonMountSinjar, thereweremanypeople therewithno foodorwater.Therewasonlyonewellandthousandsofpeoplewouldgatheraroundit,tryingtogetsomewater.Thewitnessfoundsomeonewithtwobagsofflourandofferedhim100USdollarsforoneofthem,whichherefused.


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Thewitnessrecountedhowairplanesbegandroppingfoodpackagesfromtheair,buttheselandedfaraway.ThosetrappedwereafraidofgoingdowntogetthefoodandriskbeingcaughtbyISIL.TheydidnotknowwhattodowhiletrappedontheMountain–theyheardthatsomepeoplehadtriedtofleetoSyriabutthattheyhadbeencaughtbyISILandkilled.On11August2014,theyheardthattheKurdishPeople’s Protection Units based in Syria (“YPG”) with PKK had opened a passage to Syria and theydecided to try. Along the way, some soldiers provided them with drinking water and they foundcucumbersandwatermelonata farm.At theborder, therewasa truckdistributingwaterandpeoplebeganfightingforit.ThewitnessandhisfamilymanagedtogettwobottlesandtheycrossedintoSyria.TheylatermanagedtoreturntotheKR-I.

2. Forced conversions

ThoseYezidiwhomanagedtosurvivetheinitialonslaughtreportedthat,usuallyassoonastheywereintercepted by ISIL, they were told to convert to Islam or be killed. Those who refused were killedimmediately, often in front of the other captured Yezidi. Those who complied under this extremeduress,werenonethelesssubjectedtosevereill-treatmentandsexualviolence.

Forinstance,onewitnesswhowasinSinjarcitywithherfamilyreportedthatISILarrivedaround8:30amon 3 August 2014 in multiple trucks. The Peshmerga had withdrawn from the city without tellingresidents.TheISILmemberswerewearing“Afghan”clothingbutknewherbrotherandcousinbyname.TheyweretoldtoconverttoIslamorbekilled.Theycompliedastheyfelttheyhadnochoice.

AwitnessfromTalQasabvillagereturnedfromMountSinjartoSinjarcitywithhisfamilyaftertheywereconvincedbyISILthattheywouldnotharmthem.Astheyapproachedthestadium,hesawtwoyoungmenlyingdeadonthegroundwithbloodonthem.Atacheckpointnearthestadium,womenandmenwereseparatedandtakentoaformergovernmentbuilding.Twomen,agedbetween40and45yearsold, tried to escape andwere shot dead. Three days later, the 200 to 250men in the buildingwereblindfoldedandhadtheirhandstiedbehindtheirbacks.Theyweremadetokneelforabout24hours.ISILmembersfilmedthemandtoldthemthattheyweregoingtokillthemall.ISILthentoldthemthat,purportedlyontheordersofISILleaderAbuBakral-Baghdadi,iftheyconvertedtoIslamtheywouldnotbekilled.Themenacceptedtoconvert.

Another woman reported that, after several days in captivity, her 85 year-old husband refused toconvertandwasthentakenawaybyISILmembers.Shehasnoinformationonhiswhereabouts.

Onewitness reported that, after her and her familywere abducted by ISIL, theywere taken to SyriabeforebeingbroughtbacktoIraqaweeklater.Inthefirstweekoftheircaptivity,theyweretakenoneby one in front of an Iraqi self-declared mullah and ordered to convert to Islam. They were thenseparatedintothreegroups–girls,youngmen,andfamilies–andtakenbacktoIraq.

On the morning of 4 August 2014, ISIL captured Solakhi village, near to Sinjar city. According to awitness,about110people,bothYezidiandShi’a,wereroundedupandcrowdedintofivehouses.Thatevening,ISILmemberscameand‘asked’themtoconverttoIslamwhiletheShi’awereaskedto‘repent’their“errors”.About50peoplerefused;30ofthem,mostlyelderlyYezidi,wereshotandkilledinfrontof the others. Another 15 of thosewho refused to convertwere locked into a room. Therewas oneelderlywomanamongthegroup,andtherestweremen.ISILprovidedthemonlywithdirtywaterandnofood.Afteraround16days,theyhadalldied.ThewitnesssawISILtakingthebodiesoutoftheroom.


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OnefamilyfromWardiyavillagereportedthat,after17membersofhisfamilyweretakencaptivebyISILon4August2014,hemanagedtocontactapersonheknewinBa’ajDistrictandaskedhimtointervene.Followingthisintervention,thefamilywastakentoanareaoutsideofBa’ajtown.Theywerekeptintworoomsforatleastayearandsevenmonths.TheywereforcedtoconverttoIslamandtoprayfivetimesaday.ISILwouldcomeintotheirroomstoterrorizethem,accusingthemofnotbeinggoodMuslimsandthreateningthem.

3. Abduction, deprivation of l iberty, and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment

Those capturedby ISILon3August2014and in thedays that followed reportbeingmovedbetweendifferentlocationsfrequentlyandsubjectedtosevereill-treatmentaswellasalackofbasicnecessitiesincludingfoodandwater.Eventhemostvulnerablecaptives,suchaschildren,theelderly,andpeoplewithdisabilitiesweresubjecttothesameinhumanetreatment.

OnewitnessreportedthatbeingcapturedshewasfirsttakentoabuildinginSinjarcityforsevendayswithagroupofwomen;thenmovedtoMosulfor20days;thentoTelAfarprisoninTelAfarDistrictforthreedays;thentoaschool inTelAfarforsevendays;toBadoushprisonnearMosulcityfornearlyamonth;andthentoaschool inTelAfar. ISILreportedlyregisteredthecaptives’nameswhenevertheyweremovedfromonelocationtoanother.IntheschoolinTelAfar,somewerereunitedwithsomeoftheirfamilymembers–ISILwouldreadoutthenameofthemenwhowouldjointheirfamilies–buttheyounggirlswere taken fromthem.The familieswere thenmovedtoanabandonedvillage inTelAfarDistrict,previously inhabitedbyShi’aTurkomen.Whenthewitnesswas released inApril2015,withagroupofcaptiveswhowereelderlyorhaddisabilities,ISILtookherfour-year-olddaughterfromherandthreatened to kill her and her other children if she refused to leave without the girl. Her daughterremainsmissing.

Interviewees reported that sometimes they went for three days without food. One woman wasbreastfeedingher three-monthold baby and, as ISIL hadnot brought food andwater for threedays,they resorted todrinkingwater fromthe toiletsof thebuildingwhere theywerebeingheld.Anotherwoman reported that ISILmembersbroughtold,drypiecesofbread for themtoeat inboxes;as thewomen ran to the bread, ISILmembers filmed them, saying that theywould release a video so theirYezidifamiliescouldseethattheywereallbeingheldasslaves.SeveralwomenrecountedhowtheyhadbeenheldindifferentlocationsinIraqandSyriaundergroundorinroomswiththewindowscoveredsotheycouldnottellifitwasdayornightup,andthatsomehadbeenheldinsuchplacesforfourtofivemonths. Severalwomen reportedbeingheldunderground inwhatappeared tobeaprison inRaqqa,Syria,withsewagewateruptotheirkneesforuptofivedays.

ManyYezidireportedbeingfrequentlybeatenincaptivity.Onewomanreportedthatwhilebeingheldinaprison inTelAfar, two ISILmemberswhospokeArabicwithan IraqiTelAfaraccentwouldbeat thewomenwith long sticks,while telling them that Yezidi are “infidels” and “pigs”.A Yezidiman,who isdisabled,wascapturedandtakentoBa’ajDistrictbyISILmembersafterhewasunabletofleefromGilZuervillage,SinjarDistrict.Hewasputinaroomwithabout10othermen,whoweremostlyArab.Everyonceinawhile,ISILmemberswouldcomeandtakesomeoftheArabmenandbeatthemwithcables.ThewitnesswastoldbythevictimsthatitwasbecausetheyhadworkedfortheGovernmentofIraq.


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Onewitnessreportedthatshewastwiceforcedintoasmallvan,alongwithotherwomen,andtakentoMosulandforcedtogivebloodforinjuredISILmembers.Onceinhospital,adoctorlinedupthewomanandtookabottleofbloodfromeach.

Several Yezidi reported that theywereallowed to livewith their families inabandonedvillages inTelAfarDistrict,previouslyinhabitedbyShi’aTurkomen.AlloftheYezidiwerereportedlyforcedtoworkinsomecapacity.Onewitnessreportedthather20and45year-oldsonswereforcedtoworkeverydayfrom4:00amto6:00pm.Menwere forced tobuild tunnels for ISILor toworkas shepherdsand farmlabourers.Onemanwhoworkedasashepherdalongsidesevenofhisrelativesreportedthattheywerenotpaidand“didnotdare”toaskforasalary.

Houseswere reportedly checked frequently formobilephones; individuals foundwithmobilephonesweretakentothemiddleofthevillageandlashedinfrontofotherYezidiwhowereforcedtowatch.

Children above the age of five years oldwere forcibly converted to Islam andwere taken to schoolsweretheywereforcedtolearntheQuran.One19year-oldmanreportedthat,whileincaptivityinTelAfar,ISILtaughthimandhisbrotherhowtouseweaponsataschoolinthecity.ISILwasteachingallofthe Yezidi boyswhowere above the age of 12 how to useweapons, alongwith someboyswho thewitness believed were from Chechnya. According to the witnesses, about 300 boys are trained andindoctrinatedattheschool.

4. Systematic and widespread ki l l ings

After ISIL advanced into and captured Sinjar city as well as surrounding Yezidi villages, multiplewitnessesreportedthatISILmemberskilledscoresofYezidicivilians.Accordingtoaccountsofwitnessesandsurvivors,masskillingsofYezidialongwithotheractsperpetratedbyISILmembersappeartohavebeencommittedaspartofasystematicpatternofsimilarconductcarriedoutwiththeintenttodestroytheYezidiasagroup.22

OnewitnessfledTalBanatvillagewithherextendedfamilyonthemorningof3August2014.Astheysped through a checkpoint, she sawmasked gunmen, many dressed in what she described as black‘’Afghan-style’’dress,openfireonavehiclebehindthemthatwascomingfromthedirectionofSinjarcity and carrying three Yezidi men, killing the passengers instantly. The witness later learned fromanothereye-witness that40Yezidimen, includingherown father,were taken fromhervillage to theZulialaharea,nearSinjarMountain,andwerekilled.Thatsamemorning,anotherwitnesssawISILkillhis16-year-old cousin after he tried to escape.When the victim’smother started screaming and cursingISIL,shewasshotdead.

OnewomanfromTalAzervillagereportedthat74membersofherextendedfamilywerecapturedbyISILonthemorningof3August2014andtakentotheSibaSheikhKhedirarea.Twodayslater,shewasseparated from her parents, husband, and other relatives. She relayed to UNAMI human rightsinvestigatorsthatshesawalargenumberofdeadbodies(perhapshundreds)lyinginfrontofawallinSiba Sheikh Khedir area. She said she witnessed her husband and other Yezidi men being forced tothrow thebodies of hundredsof other Yezidi victims, all shot and killedby ISIL, intobig ditches. Thewitnesshasnotseenherhusbandorotherrelativessincethisincident.22Seefootnote4above.


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Onewitness reported thathedecided tostay inKochovillageon themorningof3August2014afterhearing thatYezidiattempting to flee toSinjarMountainwerebeingkilledor capturedby ISIL.Onoraround10August2014, ISILarrived inalmost60vehiclesand surrounded thevillage. Fivedays later,two bulldozers arrived. An ISIL Emir23 asked a village Sheikh to gather the residents into the schoolbuilding. Theywere told to leave theirmoney, phones, and other possessions. ISIL asked residents iftheywouldconverttoIslamandtheSheikhrefusedontheirbehalf.ISILmembersbeganputtinggroupsofabout50Yezidimen intovehicles; thewitnesswas takenwith the firstgroup.Theystoppedabout350metersawayfromthevillageatafarm.Themenwereorderedtosit,withISILmembersstandingbehindthem.Onewasfilmingthescene.TheISILEmirorderedtheISILmemberstobeginshooting.Thewitnesswas shot twice inhis right leg,once inhis left leg, andonce inhisback.Hepretended tobedead.Afterabout15minutes,ISILleftandthewitnessraisedhisheadandsawthathis15-year-oldsonandtwonephewsweredead.Ashecrawledawaytoanotherfarm,hesaweightothersurvivorstryingtocrawlindifferentdirections.Fromthenearbyfarm,hecouldseeISILkillingthesecondgroupofmenandheardthescreamingandcryingofwomenandchildren.Reportedly,bulldozersarrivedandcoveredthebodieswithsand.

Severalwitnesses reported that, upon encountering ISILmembers, theywere told to return homeastheywouldnotbeharmed.Manybelievedwhattheyweretoldandreturned.Forinstance,onewitnessreportedthatwhenISILtoolcontrolofWardiyavillage,on3August2014,withmorethan20fighters,theytoldtheresidentsthattheywouldnothurtcivilians.Thenextday,however,shesawISILshootandkillthreemen:afather,hisson,andthewitness’youngnext-doorneighbour.ThewitnesswascapturedwhilesubsequentlytryingtoescapetoSinjarMountain.

Months later, when thewitness was being held captive in Hai al-Khadra village, an abandoned Shi’avillageinTelAfarDistrict,someYezidifamiliesmanagedtoescape.AnIraqiISILEmirbroughtallofthementothemosqueandsaidifanymoreofthemescaped,hewouldkillthemenandtakethewomenandchildren.Thenextday,threemoreYezidifamiliesescapedfromthevillage.TheEmircollectedmorethan 600 Yezidi men in the mosque and then forced them into several long vehicles, including thewitness’husband,brother,and twouncles.Allof thewomenandchildrenwere thengathered in theyardofthemosquebyISIL-whoweredescribedbythesurvivorsashavinglonghair,wearing“Afghan”styledress,andmanyspeakingwithSyrianaccents.TheISILEmirtoldthemthattheykilledthe600men.Thewomenandchildren, including thewitness,were thenputonbusesand taken toa school inTelAfar.ShewasthensoldandtakentoSyriabeforeshemanagedtoescape.Shehasnotheardanynewsofhermalerelativessince.

AnotherwitnesssimilarlyreportedhearingfromothervillagersthatISILhadtoldresidentsthatnoharmwouldcometothem.Hedecidedtoreturnwithhissontohisarea,butastheyproceeded,theysawISILcapturingandseparatingYezidimenandwomen,andthenkilling“many”men.ThewitnessandhissonwereeventuallycapturedbyISILinWardiyavillage,takentoTelAfar,andputinahallwithabout600men.TheywereallfromdifferentplacesaroundSinjardistrict.ISILmemberswouldcomeintothehallandselectaboutfiveorsixmenandtakethemoutside.Gunshotscouldthenbeheard.About20menweretakenintotal.Afterwards,ISILwouldsometimescomebackandaskthecaptiveswherethemenwent–buttheydidnotdaretoanswer,knowingthat iftheyansweredthattheyknew,ISILwouldkillthem.

23AtitleusedbyISILforaself-proclaimedleader


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Another witness reported that, a few weeks after being taken captive in Solakhi village, hostilitieseruptedbetweenISILandPeshmergaforces. ISILroundeduptheapproximately20civiliansstill inthevillage –many of the others having been killed – and put them into a house so that they could notescape.ISILthencameandshotthreecivilians–includingonefromKochovillageandanotherfromTalQasabvillage–infrontofthegroupwithamachinegun,withnoexplanation.

Twowitnessesreportedthat,on3August2014, ISILmemberssurroundedafarminTalAzerandtoldtheYezidihiding there to convert to Islamorbekilled.Allof theapproximately20men in thegrouprefused andwere immediately shot in the head and killed.Most of the women and girls were thenloaded intocarsandeventuallymovedtoMosulwitha largergroupofabout300to400womenandgirls.

Anotherwitnessreportedthat,twodaysafterbeingcapturedbyISIL,theyweretoldtoconverttoIslam.One21year-oldmanrefused,andwasshotintheheadinfrontoftheotherYezidicaptives.

Those Yezidiwhowere caught trying to escape from ISIL captivitywere killed. For instance,multiplewitnesses(includingarelativeofoneofthevictims),reportedthattwoYezidimenwerecaughttryingtoescapefromQasirAlMihrabvillage,TelAfarDistrict,andwerekilledbyISIL.ISILtoldthecapturedYezidithatanyonewhotriedtoescapewouldsufferthesamefate.

Multiple witnesses have provided UNAMI/OHCHRwith lists of their family and communitymemberswhowereabductedbyISILandwhoremainmissingandmayhavebeenkilledbyISIL.

5. Sexual violence / sexual s lavery

AfterthecaptureofthousandsofYezidicivilians,ISILsystematicallyseparatedthemenfromthewomenandchildren.Often,after thewomenandchildrenhadbeendeprivedof their liberty, ISILwouldthentake the younger girls away.Witness information indicates thatmost girls under approximately eightyears old would be left with their mothers, while those above that age were taken. Women withyoungerchildren,orthosewhowerepregnant,wereoftennotsparedfromsexualharassment,rapeorotherconflictrelatedsexualviolence.

ISILitselfconfirmedthatsexualslaverywasacceptableregardingfemalecaptives.ISILreferstothemas‘slaves’or ‘spoilsofwar’ in several public statements.24 For instance, in approximatelyOctober2014,ISILissuedapamphletentitled“QuestionsandAnswersonTakingCaptivesandSlaves”.Thedocumentstatesthatitispermissibletohavesexualintercoursewithagirlwhohasnotreachedpuberty,andthatthe“slave”isconsideredasmerelyapropertyoftheownerthat,afterhisdeath,couldbedistributedaspartofhisestate25.

Anotherdocument,alsoreleasedaroundOctober2014,establishespricesforthesaleofcaptivewomenandchildren:300,000IraqiDinar(IQD)forchildrenagedfromonetonineyearsold;150,000IQDfor10

24ReferredtobyISILasmamalakataymanukum“thatwhichyourrighthandpossesses”;Forinstance,seeISILDabiq,1435,Issue4:‘TheFailedCrusade’,p.14Availableathttp://media.clarionproject.org/files/islamic-state/islamic-state-isis-magazine-Issue-4-the-failedcrusade.pdf25ThedocumentiscitedinEnglishtranslationonthefollowingwebsite:https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/09/05/slavery-isis-rules


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to20-year-oldgirls;100,000IQDfor20to30year-oldwomen;75,000IQDfor30to40year-oldwomen;and50,000IQDfor40to50year-oldwomen.ThedocumentaddsthatonlyforeignfightersfromTurkey,SyriaandtheGulfstatesarepermittedtobuymorethanthreecaptives.

Onewitnessreportedthat,afterbeingheldforfourdays,theyounggirlswereseparatedfromtheolderwomen. Two of her daughters, aged 13 and 14 years old, were taken from her. Themenwere alsoseparated,withalloftheirnamesregisteredinnotebooks.Similarly,anotherwitnessreportedthatafterbeingcapturedwithherfamily,theyweretakentoaschool inTelAfarDistrict. Infrontoftheschool,themenwereforcedintoanothertruck.Whentheytriedtoresist,theywerebeaten.Thewomenandchildrenweremovedintotheschool;ISILmembersreportedlycongratulatedeachotheronthesuccessoftheoperationastheyhadcaptureda“bignumber”ofwomenandgirls.Overthecourseof12days,thewomen’s nameswere registeredby ISIL and themarriedwomenwere separated from the singlegirls.

Anotherwomanreportedthatafterherhusbandandthreesonswereseparatedfromheron3August2014inSinjarcity,ISILthenstartedseparatingtheyounggirlsandwomen.Theprocesstookalmostfivehours,andaround500younggirlsweretakenaway,includingher13year-olddaughter,whowastakento a hall in Mosul that was “full of girls”. After seven days, her daughter was sold to an Iraqi ISILmember,atthepremisesofaformercourtinMosul,for1,000USdollars.

Women were often deprived of their liberty together in large buildings such as municipal buildings,schools, and prisons. ISILwould frequently come and take girls andwomen outside, often by pullingtheirhairandbeatingthem,seeminglytorapeandassaultthegirls.Oneelderlywitnesswasdeprivedoflibertywith 900 otherwomen in a big hall inMosul and counted 76 girls taken out by ISIL, some asyoungasfiveyearsold.Womenwouldreportedlypretendtobemarried,sometimestotheirbrothers,to“protectthemselvesfrombeingdistributedamongISIL”.

OnewomanreportedthatshewastakentoaprisoninTelAfar,whichwascrowdedwithYezidicaptives.One evening, ISILmembers carrying large knives,who thewoman believed to be Syrians (from theiraccents),enteredacellshewas inalongwithamotherandhertwodaughters.Theytriedtotakethegirls, aged around 20 and 23 years, but themother and girls resisted. One ISILmember put a knifeagainstthemother’sthroatandtheotherrapedoneofherdaughters.Thesecondmanthenrapedtheothergirl.

Anotherwitnessreportedthat,afterseveralmonthsofcaptivityinTelAfarDistrict,shewasputononeofagroupofbusesanddrivenbackandforthtoMosulbyISIL.Alongthewayback,theystoppedataplacewheretherewerearound50carswithmenwearingwhitelongdress,similartotheGulfnationaldress.Thesemencameinsidethebusandbeganpickinggirls.Someofthemenusedwoodenstickstobeat themotherswho tried to resist. After putting the girls into their cars, thesemen gave the ISILmembersmoneybeforedeparting.

Asurvivorwhowassubjectedto19monthsofISILslaveryrelayedtoUNAMIhumanrightsinvestigatorshowISILmenhitherwhenshetriedtopreventthemfromtakingher13-yearolddaughterawayfromher. She screamed, begging them to leave the child. While she held her daughter’s hand tightly topreventthemfromtakingheraway,anISILmemberhitheronherhand,fracturingit,anddraggedthechildout.Sinceherescape,shestatedthatshehassufferedfromrepeatednightmaresoftheevent.Shedoes not know the whereabouts of her daughter. Many other interviewees similarly recounted thattheirdaughtersweretakenawayfromthemwhentheywereincaptivity.

Twowomenreportedbeingmovedfrequently,includingtoQasirAlMihrabvillage,TelAfarDistrict.TheYezidiwomenwererepeatedlyrapedandsexuallyassaultedthere.Afteraround11monthsofcaptivity,theyweretakentoRaqqa,Syria,whereapproximately400womenwerebeingheld. ISILheldthemin


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underground locations, such as in tunnels, for four to five months, without access to natural light,drinkingwater,orproperfood.Theyreportedthatmanychildrenwhowerealsoheldcaptivewitnessedsexual assaults, killings, and other abuses. Many of the children continue to show signs of trauma,includingextremefatigue,sleepdisturbances,dizziness,anddifficultyconcentrating.

Anotherwomanreportedthat,aftersomeYezidimanagedtoescapefromtheabandonedShi’avillagewheretheywerebeingheld,thewomenwereputonbusesandmovedbacktoaschoolinTelAfar.ISILmembers,whoshebelievedtobeSyrianbecauseoftheiraccents,cametobuythewomen.

ThewomenweretoldtheyhadallbeensoldtoISILinSyria.Asshewasbeingforcedontooneofthreebuses,thewitness’11-year-olddaughterwastakenfromher,aswellasallgirlsabovetheageofnineweretakenaway.Herotherdaughterswereleftwithher.Afterthreedaysoftravel,thewomenwereput underground in a room filled with dirty water up to their knees. Theywere told to come up toregistertheirnames;whentheyrefusedtogobecausetheywereafraid, ISILmemberstoldthemthattheywouldnot give themmilk for theirbabies.After sixdays, theywere taken toaprison inRaqqa,Syria. Threemonths later, thewitnesswasput on another bus, andher three year-old daughterwastakenfromher.Whenshetriedtoresist,shewasbeaten.

The witness recounted how she was thenmoved to Palmyra where her namewas again registered.Everyeveningshewasforcedtoremoveherheadscarfandtowalkbackandforthacrossabighall infrontofISILmembers.OneISILmemberwouldcallout,“propertyischeap”.ThewitnesswasthensoldtoaTurkishman;afteramonth,shewassoldontoaSyrianman.Onenight,afriendofhiscametotrytotakehersevenyear-olddaughter.Afterthewitnessmanagedtosaveherdaughter,shecutoffherhairandeyelashes,toreherclothes,putthechildinadiaper,andtoldhertopretendshewasmentally-illsothattheywouldleaveheralone.

Thewitnesswas thengivenasagift toanotherSyrianmanand later sold toaTunisian ISILmember,thentoamanfromSaudiArabia.Threemonthslater,shewassoldtoanEgyptianISILmember.Hetriedtorapeherandherdaughteronthefirstday,afterwhichshetriedtokillherselfandherchildren.ShewascaughtandbeatenwithaplasticpipebytheISILmemberuntilshepassedout.Thenextday,thesame thinghappened. Shewas assistedby theman’swife,who toldher to live for her children. Thewitnesseventuallyescapedthroughtheassistanceofasmuggler.

Anotherwoman reported that two days after shewas captured by ISIL, shewas separated from herparents,herhusband,andotherrelatives.Hertwodaughters,agedfourandsix,werepermittedtostaywithher.ShewastakenwithotherwomenwhowerepregnantorhadchildrentoTelAfar,whilesinglewomenwere takenelsewhere.Shewasmovedseveral timesuntilApril2015,whenshewas taken toRaqqa,Syria.Alongwithotherwomen, shewaskeptunderground inaprison,withwaterup to theirknees,forfivedays.WomenwerebeingtakentotheSouqalSabaya–themarketwherewomenweresold.Thewitness’new-bornsonwastakenfromherinRaqqaandshewasmovedwithherdaughterstoPalmyra.Shewassoldtoa26-year-oldSyrianISILmemberwhorapedherregularlyforatleast15days,threateningtokillherdaughtersifshedidnotsubmit.Shemanagedtoescapewithherdaughtersbutwaseventuallycaughtatacheckpoint.Theywerekeptinisolationforfourdayswithnofoodorwater.

Afterbeingbadlybeaten,shewassoldtoaSaudiISILmemberwhorapedherinfrontofherdaughters.Eightdayslater,shewassoldtoa60-year-oldSaudimanwhoalsorapedher.Fifteendayslater,shewastakentothehomeofanotherman,whowasan ISILmember,whorapedherandrefusedtofeedherdaughters. The witness was sold twicemore, first to a Palestinianmanwho threatened to rape herdaughterswhenshe tried to resisthisassault,and thentoaSyrianmanwho forcedher toworkasacleanerinhishousebutreunitedherwithhersonwhohadbeentakentoRaqqa.ShewaslatersoldtoaQatarimanwhoeventuallysoldhertoasmuggler.


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WomeninterviewedbyUNAMI/HROindicatedthattheywereheldcaptivebetweenthreeto19months.AfewwomenwerereleasedbyISILaspartofagroupofelderlyanddisabledYezidiwhowerefreedinApril2015.OnewomanmanagedtoescapefromavillageinTelAfarinagroupofthreeYezidifamiliesinAugust2015. Severalwomenwere freedwith theassistanceof smugglers,whowerepaid sumsofmoneybytheirfamilies.

VI. Mass graves

Asterritoryhasbeenre-takenfromISILacrossnorthernNinewaGovernorate,multiplekillingsitesandwhatarereportedtobemassgravescontainingremainsofYezidihavebeendiscovered.UNAMI/OHCHRhasreceivedreportsthatkillingsitesand/ormassgraveshavebeendiscoveredacrossSinjarDistrict,aswellasinareasofTelAfarandMosulDistricts.AlocalNGOhasdocumentedupto35suspectedsitesofmassgravescontainingYezidi remains in theSinjararea,distinct fromkilling sites, someofwhicharelocatedinterritorystillunderISILcontrol.26

Duetothenumberofsitesanda lackofresourcesandexpertise, theKurdistanRegionalGovernmenthasstruggledtoproperlyprotect,preserve,andexcavatethesesites.Untilproperexcavationiscarriedout, it is impossibletodeterminehowmanyremainsarecontained inthegraves, their identities,andpossible evidence that may assist in identifying the perpetrators. There have also been reports thatfamilymembershavebeendisturbing thegraves inorder to recover the remainsof their lovedones.Efforts to protect and exhume these sites are ongoing by specialized actors in cooperationwith KR-Iauthorities,butmoreresourcesarerequired.

VII . Support to Yezidi survivors and their famil ies

Almost all of the individuals interviewed by UNAMI/OHCHR indicated that they were in need ofhumanitariansupport.Basicneedssuchasshelter,medicalcare,andeducationalservicesareprovidedat the IDP camps, throughamixof government,non-governmentalorganisationsandUnitedNationsassistance.

However, services for survivors of trauma have not been sufficient tomeet the overwhelming need.Thereisanacutelackofspecializedpsychologicalcare–anditbecamepatenttoUNAMI/OHCHRwhiledocumentingeye-witnessandsurvivortestimoniesthattherearelargenumbersofdeeplytraumatizedwomen,childrenandmeninneedofspecialisedassistance.

On the basis of information available to UNAMI/OHCHR, it has been observed thatwhen individualsreturn from ISIL captivity, there is no formal, methodical system in place to assess and providepsychological,medical,andotherneeds.TheYezidihavereliedoncommunityandinformalnetworkstohelplocateotherfamilymembers;toobtainshelter,ofteninIDPcamps;andtoaccessotheressentialservices, if available. Severalwomen reported that,while theywere taken to amedical facility upontheir return, only basic medical interventions were undertaken, such as blood tests, and no furthersupport has been forthcoming.Manywomen requestedpsychological support for their children.One

26YazdaDocumentationProject,MassGravesofYezidiKilledbytheIslamicStateOrganizationorLocalAffiliatesonorafter3August,2014,28January2016.Availableathttp://www.yazda.org/yazda-issues-public-report-on-yazidi-mass-graves-in-sinjar-shingal/.


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womanreported thatalthoughshehadbeen interviewedclose to20 timesbydifferentorganizationsandmedia,thishadnotresultedinanysupportforherorherchildren.

VII I . Conclusion and Recommendations

TheUnitedNationsAssistanceMissionforIraqandtheOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerfor Human Rights continue to gather and document evidence of serious abuses and violations ofinternational human rights and humanitarian law that have been committed againstmembers of theYezidicommunity inareasunderthecontrolof ISIL.This includestargetedkillings,forcedconversions,abductions,slavery,sexualandphysicalabuseandtorture,andlayingsiegetoentirecommunitiesbasedexclusively on ethnic, religious or sectarian identity27. Shrines, religious sites and places of culturalsignificance forYezidihavealsobeendeliberatelyandsystematicallydestroyed28.ThousandsofYezidiwomen,childrenandmenremainmissing,heldincaptivityordisplaced.

As this report shows, theYezidi communityhassuffered froma rangeofviolationsandabusesat thehands of ISIL. Those outlined in this report have been committed in a systematic and widespreadmanner, targeting civilianmembers of the Yezidi as a group, andmay amount towar crimes, crimesagainst humanity, and possibly genocide. While ‘intention to commit crimes against humanity andgenocide can be inferred from the actions themselves, ISIL also expressed its intention in relation toeitherannihilatetheYezidi,eitherbykillingthemorforciblyconvertingthem.Inmanycases,theintentto destroy the Yezidi as a group can be inferred not only from the acts themselves and theircircumstances,butalsofromstatementsandpositionsopenlytakenbyISIL.29

UNAMI/OHCHR remains gravely concerned at the situation of civilians who remain in areas of ISILcontrol, particularly the approximately 3,500 women, girls, and some men predominantly from theYezidi community, but also a number of other ethnic and religious communities, who remain in ISILcaptivity.EveryeffortmustbeundertakenbytheGovernmentofIraqandtheinternationalcommunity,instrictcompliancewithapplicableinternationalhumanitarianlawandhumanrightslaw,toputanendtothehumanrightsabusesbeingperpetratedby ISILandtosecurethesafereleaseofthesecivilians.Psycho-social,medical and other forms of support are urgently required, notably for the survivors ofsexual violence and sexual slavery. Furthermore, everything feasible must be done to create safe,dignifiedconditionsfortheYezidi,alongwithIDPsfromothercommunities,toreturntotheirplacesoforigin.

It isparamountthatall theseallegationsofseriousabusesandcrimescommittedby ISILmembers,aswell as their superiors, be promptly, independently, impartially and thoroughly investigated and thatthoseresponsiblebebroughtintoaccount.

The Government of Iraq must ensure that its domestic criminal justice system does so, notably bymakingfulluseoftheprovisionsoftheIraqiCriminalCodeno.111of1969.Itshouldalsoensurethatitfully incorporates all relevant international instruments and criminalizes war crimes, crimes againsthumanity and genocide, so that the Iraqi courts have jurisdiction over the international crimes

27PreviouslyreportedinUNAMI/OHCHRpublicreports.Seeforexample,UNAMI/OHCHRReportontheProtectionofCiviliansinArmedConflictinIraq,6July-10September2014,page13,availableathttp://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IQ/UNAMI_OHCHR_POC_Report_FINAL_6July_10September2014.pdf28SeeUNAMI/OHCHRReportontheProtectionofCiviliansinArmedConflictinIraq,11September-10December2014,page12,availableathttp://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IQ/UNAMI_OHCHR_Sep_Dec_2014.pdf29Seefootnote4above.


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committedinIraq,andthatthereisnoimpedimenttoensuringjusticeforthevictimsandsurvivorsofthesecrimesandforthepeopleofIraqasawhole.

Furthermore,IraqisnotaPartytotheInternationalCriminalCourtStatute,andthusfarhasnotchosentoreferthecurrentconflicttotheadhocjurisdictionoftheCourtpursuanttoArticle12ofitsStatute.The Government of Iraq has requested the United Nations Security Council assist with ensuringaccountability,butthisdoesnotrelieveIraqfromitsownobligationstoensureaccountabilitythroughitsdomesticjurisdiction.30

As a matter of urgency, UNAMI/OHCHR recommends the fol lowing:

TotheGovernmentsofIraq:

1. Takeallactionsnecessaryandexertallefforts,instrictcompliancewithapplicableinternationallaw,includinginternationalhumanitarianlawandinternationalhumanrightslaw,toputanendtothehumanrightsabusesbeingperpetratedbyISILandtoprotectciviliansfromtheeffectsofsuchabuses.

2. Investigate effectively, promptly, thoroughly, and impartially all allegations of violations orabusesof international lawandcrimesandholdthoseresponsibletoaccount.Ensurethatthefindingsaremadepublic.

3. Ensure full respect for the rights of all victims and their relatives to an effective remedy,includingtherighttoequalandeffectiveaccesstojusticeandadequate,effective,andpromptreparationfortheharmsuffered.

4. Establish a quasi-judicial public commission of inquiry or other suitablemechanism to collectinformationanddocumentevidenceconcerningtheabuses,violationsandcrimestoidentifythefacts, provide information that can assist the Government develop and implement policyresponses for the care and protection of the victims and survivors of these violations andabuses,systematicallycollectevidencetoidentifyandprosecuteallegedperpetrators,andassistincommunityandnationalreconciliation.

5. Exertalleffortsinlinewithavailableresourcestoensurethatallvictimsandsurvivorsofhumanrights violations and abuses receive timely and appropriatemedical, psycho-social and othermeansofsupportinaccordancewiththeirneeds.

6. Amend the Iraqi Criminal Code no. 111 of 1969 or enact legislation to ensure that domesticcourtshavejurisdictioninrelationtointernationalcrimescommittedinIraq.

7. AccedetotheRomeStatuteoftheInternationalCriminalCourt;asanimmediatestep,referthespecificsituationinthecountrytotheCourt’sjurisdiction,pursuanttoArticle12(3)oftheRomeStatute.

8. Takeallnecessarymeasurestoensurethatdisplacedpersonshavetherighttovoluntaryreturnto their places of origin in safety and dignity and in full compliance with internationalhumanitarianprinciples.

30On6May2016,H.E.MrMohamedAliAlHakim,PermanentRepresentativeofIraqtotheUnitedNationscalledupontheUNSecurityCouncilto“…setupaspecific international legalmechanismfor investigatingandbringingto justicethecriminalsofISIL.”:UNSecurityCouncil,7689thMeeting,(6May2016),UNDocS/PV.7689,5.


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9. Ensure the protection of mass graves, where the security situation allows, along withappropriate care and measures to excavate such sites and exhume and identify the mortalremains, and to preserve evidence of crimes committed; including any that may lead to theidentification of perpetrators. Conduct independent, public coronial inquiries into each massgrave, to identify the victims, collect evidenceofwrongdoing, fully investigate anddeterminethecircumstancesthatledtothedeathsoftheindividualsconcerned,makefindingsastocauseof death of the individuals concerned and determine evidence that would substantiate theprosecutionofparticularindividuals;ensurethatfamilymembersofvictimsandmissingpersonsare provided with all available information and adequate and timely financial, material andotherassistance.

10. Coordinatewith theUnitedNations notablyOHCHR and other specializedmandates that canprovide technical and other assistance on mechanisms for promoting and ensuringaccountabilityforinternationalcrimes.

11. Implement the recommendationsmade to itby the Independent InternationalCommissionofInquiry on the Syrian ArabRepublic in the report of the Commission issued on 15 June 2016(A/HRC/32/CRP.2)31.

Totheinternationalcommunity:

1. The international community, including the United Nations Security Council and the HumanRights Council, should remain seized of the situation in Iraq with a view to ensuring thatperpetratorsofgrossviolationsandabusesofhumanrights,seriousviolationsof internationalhumanitarianlaw,andinternationalcrimesareheldaccountable.

2. All States should ensure that competent domestic criminal justice systems fully use theircompetence to hold accountable all those responsible for international crimes committed inIraq.

3. The internationalcommunityshouldexertallefforts toensure thatadequateandappropriatelevelsofmedical,psycho-socialandothermeansofassistanceandsupportareprovidedtothevictimsand survivorsofhuman rights violationsandabuses, taking intoaccount their specificneedsandinfullconsultationwiththerelevantlocalactors.

4. The international community should exert all efforts to ensure that all material and othersupportnecessaryisprovidedtotheGovernmentofIraqtoassistitinprovidingforthesecurityandhumanitarianneedsofpersonsdisplacedbytheongoingarmedconflictandtoensurethatIDPs can return to their places of origin in full compliance with humanitarian principles, inparticulartheguidingprinciplesoninternaldisplacement.

5. Support efforts to ensure that all the human rights abuses and other crimes are investigatedpromptly,independently,impartiallyandthoroughlyandthoseresponsiblebroughttoaccountandestablishmechanismstoprovideredress forvictims including,whenappropriate, throughalternativejusticemechanisms,communityreconciliationandtransitionaljusticeprocesses.

6. Provide the Government of Iraq with all necessary assistance (technical and financial) in itsefforts to identify, excavate, and investigate mass graves and sites where crimes have beenperpetrated.

31InternationalCommissionofInquiryonLibya,ReportoftheIndependentInternationalCommissionofInquiryontheSyrianArabRepublic:“Theycametodestroy”:ISISCrimesAgainsttheYazidis,15June2016,A/HRC/32/CRP.2,para.209


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Annex: Glossary

IDPs InternallyDisplacedPersons

IHL InternationalHumanitarianLaw

IHRL InternationalHumanrightsLaw

ISIL (so-called)IslamicStateofIraqandtheLevant

KR-I KurdistanRegionofIraq

OHCHR OfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRights

PKK PartiyaKarkerênKurdistanê/KurdishWorkers'Party

UNAMI UnitedNationsAssistanceMissionforIraq

YPG YekîneyênParastinaGelor/KurdishPeople’sProtectionUnits