Yazidi woman rescued from Hol Camp told about 9 years of captivity

2022-09-17 11:14:59


	 

	NEWS CENTER - 24-year-old Yazidi woman Sewsen Hesen Heyder, who was rescued by the YPJ in scope of the the ongoing operation against ISIS in the Hol Camp, said that Yazidi women can break the chains of ISIS.

	 

	The second phase of the Humanitarian and Security operation was launched on August 25 in the Hol Camp, under the leadership of the Internal Security Forces in Northern and Eastern Syria, with the support of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), YPG/YPJ. As a result of the operation, which continues on its 24th day, many tunnels, training places, prisons, torture and murder tools and ammunition belonging to ISIS was siezed, as well as some secret cells were captured. Two Yazidi women Wefa Elî Ebbas and Sewsen Hesen Heyder, as well as women with handcuffs and traces of torture on their bodies were liberated within the scope of the operation under the leadership of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ).

	 

	Sewsen Hesen Heyder told the Hawar News Agency (ANHA) about her life story and 9 years of captivity.

	 

	Stating that she was kidnapped with 9 other people as a result of the ISIS attacks against Shengal in 2014 and that she never heard from her family again, Sewsen Hesen Heyder explained what she went through as follows: “There were clashes in Shengal until the morning that day. ISIS invaded Shengal in the morning. After this invasion, ISIS separated the men and women and gathered the people of Shengal in one place. They took the men, but we didn't know where they were taking them. They gathered women and children in schools in Tilafar and Mosul. We were taken to Tilafar with my family. Then they brought us to a village in Syria. ISIS gangs came there and took Yazidi women as slaves. They took me, my mother, and my uncle's wife to the Qaim city of Iraq and gave us to the gangs."

	 

	A CALL FOR ÊZIDI WOMEN

	 

	Stating that she was taken as a prisoner to many cities after being separated from her family, Sewsen Hesen Heyder said: "I was brought to Hol Camp from Baxoz. I have been in Hol Camp for 4 years. I was happy I was rescued by the YPJ. I did not expect that one day I would be rescued and returned to my family. I will never forget this. I talked to my family on the phone after 9 years. My family was also very happy. They told me to come quickly. I never thought that the YPJ would be like this, that my family would accept me. I want all Yazidi women held by ISIS to return and not be afraid. What the Yazidi women went through was not by choice. I thank YPJ forgiving me a new life.”

	 

	HER ONLY DESIRE IS TO RETURN TO SHENGAL

	 

	Stating that she forgot her mother tongue because ISIS does not allow her to speak Kurdish, Sewsen Hesen Heyder said: “They made me forget my mother tongue. I was only able to speak in Kurdish when I saw Yazidi women. We were doing this in secret. When we came to Hol Camp, I did not speak any Kurdish. They stole my culture and language from me. I have not spoken Kurdish for a long time now, but I have not completely forgotten Kurdish and I will learn it again. My only desire is to return to Shengal. When I was in the hands of the gangs, I told them that one day we would return to our country and that we would not be under their control. They told me not to forget this. But we made it and I survived. I will go back to my old life. I miss Shengal so much. I will see my city after 9 years. I love reading. When I return to Shengal, I will continue to go to school and read.”

	 

	‘ÊZIDI WOMEN WILL BREAK THE CHAINS OF ISIS’

	 

	Stating that she met with many Yazidi women in Raqqa and Mosul and although they tried to escape, they could not succeed, Sewsen Hesen Heyder said: “When the gangs thought we were going to escape, they locked the doors on us and wouldn't let us go out. However, Yazidi women will break the chains of ISIS. I will do my best to save Yazidi women.”