Yazidi survivor of ISIS abuse addresses UN as guest of Israeli mission

A young Yazidi woman, as a guest of the Israel Mission to the U.N., described her grueling experience under ISIS captivity and her ambition to make a difference. 

A Yazidi refugee from northern Iraq who escaped captivity by Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists addressed a special event at the United Nations on Thursday hosted by the Israeli Mission to the U.N.

Noga Levy, the Israeli Mission’s UN youth delegate, initiated the program, focusing on the refugee crisis and treatment for trauma.

“ISIS fighters took us captive and put us in a small room. Each night they would come and do to us men as they pleased,” Marwa Al Aliko, 23, told the audience, which included Ninette Kelley, director of the UN refugee agency’s New York office, and Yotam Polizer, director of development for the Israeli humanitarian group IsraAid.

“One man bought me and my two sisters and moved us to Syria. After 10 days they separated us and I was on my own,” she said. “I thought about suicide… They continued to move us from place to place until one day I saw an opportunity and was able to escape.”

Marwa hopes to become a lawyer in order to help other Yazidis in that capacity.

“Marwa’s story is difficult to listen to, but it’s a story we need to hear,” stated Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, reminding those present that the Jewish people have a long history of persecution and are all too familiar with the refugee experience.

“It’s the bravery of young people like Marwa, who are willing to speak out and tell the world what is happening, in order to shake world’s indifference,” Danon said.

By: World Israel News Staff

Danny DanonIraqISISRefugeesSyriaYazidi