SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hasakah- ISIS abducted thousands of Yazidi women in Shengal (Sinjar) in 2014. Kovan Aidi Khourto from Shengal’s Hardan village was one of the abducted Yazidi women on August 3, 2014. On January 27, the General Command of Internal Security Forces in North and East Syria Region announced that they launched the third phase of Operation Humanity and Security against ISIS sleeper cells and the people supporting the activities of ISIS in the al-Hol camp with the support of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The YPJ launched a special operation in al-Hol camp and rescued Kovan Aidi Khourto and her two children from ISIS in the al-Hol camp.

‘They took me to Mosul’

“It was 17.000 when ISIS entered our village. We fled the village not to be caught by ISIS; however, ISIS members caught us. Then, they took us to a school. For nine days, we were held there but then they took girls and women to different places.  They took me to Mosul. I do not know where they took my sister,” Kovan Aidi Khourto told NuJINHA.

‘I was threatened with death because I did not keep silent’

After being held in Mosul for a while, Kovan Aidi Khourto was taken to the village of Tell Afar. “A member of ISIS bought me and raped me. I was threatened with death because I did not keep silent against what I faced. Then, I was sold to another ISIS member and sent to the city of Fallujah.”

In Fallujah, she was bought by Abu Jafar, Governor of Baghdad. “He also raped me. He tortured me because I resisted him. He threatened me with death if I kept resisting. After Abu Jafar was killed, a member of ISIS sold me to another ISIS member.”

Her life in al-Hol camp

Kovan Aidi Khourto was taken to al-Hol camp after being sold to another ISIS member. “ISIS female members both insulted and tortured me because I am a Yazidi woman. In the camp, Yazidi women were sold to ISIS members by ISIS members. We were raped many times. I have been held in al-Hol camp since 2019. I could not introduce myself because ISIS female members kill non-Muslim women and call Yazidi women as ‘infidels’. I do not know where my family is now.”

‘I am grateful to the YPJ’

Kovan Aidi Khourto told us that she could not express her happiness for being rescued from darkness, violence and torture. “When the fighters rescued me, I was in fear so I could not express my feelings. I hope to see my family members and want to learn what they have experienced so far. I am grateful to the YPJ for giving me an honorable life again. I hope that all abducted Yazidi women will be rescued from ISIS.”