Young woman and girl rescued by YPJ reunited their families in Shengal
A Yazidi woman and girl rescued from al-Hawl camp by the Women's Defense Units (YPJ) have been reunited with their families in Shengal (Sinjar) on Tuesday.
Shengal (Sinjar)- On August 1, 2024, the Women's Defense Units (YPJ) rescued two Yazidi women and a girl, abducted by ISIS in Shengal on August 3, 2014, during an operation launched against ISIS in al-Hawl camp.
Today, one of the rescued Yazidi women and the girl were brought to Shengal and welcomed by the members of the Yazidi Free Women's Movement (Kurdish: Tevgera Azadiya Jinên Êzîdî-TAJÊ) and the Shengal Women’s Units (YJŞ).
Tawaf Dawûd Çeto,24, was only 15 years old when she was abducted by ISIS from Werdiyê, a village of Shengal. Xunav Xelef, 10, was only three months old when she was abducted in the Kocho village of Shengal by ISIS.
“Two more Yazidi girls were rescued. The SDF rescues Yazidi girls and boys and hands over them to us,” said Şemê Remo, coordinating member of the TAJÊ. Then, we reunite them with their families.”
“My daughter was only three months old when she was abducted by ISIS,” said the mother of Xunav Xelef. “We thank all the forces making great efforts to rescue Yazidi women and girls.”
“I thank the YPJ for rescuing me from ISIS after 10 years. I would also like to thank Mala Êzidîyan (The House of Yazidis) and express my sincere thanks to everyone, who made great efforts to rescue me,” Tawaf Dawûd Çeto said. “I cannot describe how happy I am now.”
Gewrê Xelef, mother of Tawaf Dawûd Çeto, also made a speech thanking the YPJ. “Two girls abducted by ISIS have returned to their homeland today. They were held by ISIS for 10 years. Their fathers and brothers were killed by ISIS during the genocide. The happiness we are experiencing today makes us forget our suffering a little bit.”
‘We will make more efforts to rescue all Yazidis from ISIS’
“Two Yazidi girls were rescued and brought back to their homeland today. The YPJ rescued them,” said Hêza Şengalî, a commander of the YJŞ. “The KDP and Iraqi forces were supposedly protecting the Yazidis; however, they left the people of Shengal alone when ISIS started attacking Shengal. The forces of Rojava came to Shengal to protect them from ISIS. Since then, the YPJ has been protecting Yazidi children and women. They have rescued hundreds of Yazidi children and women until now. We express our thanks to the YPJ.”