Yazidi girl implores international community to recognize ISIS genocide against them

A young Yazidi girl who joined a United Nations meeting last month to narrate her experience as a former Islamic State (IS) captive implored the international community to recognize the genocide against her tribe and other minorities.

"I hope that the international community, especially the United Nations, will recognize this genocide against the Yazidis and other minorities," said 15-year-old Samia Sleman. Sleman joined the United Nations conference "Defending Religious Freedom and Other Human Rights: Stopping Mass Atrocities against Christians and Other Believers" that was held on April 28 in New York, according to a report by Barnabas Fund.

"We hope the international community and Western countries will help the Yazidis and Christians and open their border for them if they cannot protect them in that region and provide protection for them, they will open their borders and welcome these minorities in the Western world," Sleman continued. "We see that our people don't have the force and the ability to defend their people because we are treated as second-class citizens in that country."

The young girl warned that if the situation continues, there may no longer be any Yazidis and Christians in the region. She especially cited those in refugee camps who have been suffering for years due to lack of proper services.

According to Sleman's accounts, the IS militants attacked their village on August 3, 2014 and captured her and her entire family; her father, uncle, and grandfather are still held as hostages. She revealed that men and older women are usually killed, the young women — even those who are as young as six or seven years old — are kept as sex slaves, while the young boys are being trained and brainwashed to become future jihadis.

Sleman, who escaped the IS camps after six months and 12 days, also brought questions to the table, asking why there are no concrete actions being taken against the IS terrorists.