ISIS burns 19 Yazidi women to death for refusing to have sex with militants

Yazidism is an offshoot of Zoroastrianism, which blends ancient religious traditions with both Christianity and Islam. ISIS believes them to be "devil-worshippers". Reuters

Islamic State militants have burned to death 19 young Yazidi women in Mosul for refusing to have sex with jihadists, ARA News reports.

Eyewitnesses reportedly told the site that the women were forced into iron cages and set alight on June 2 as a crowd of hundreds watched on.

The incident was said to be a punishment for the women, who had been taken as sex slaves by ISIS.

"The 19 girls were burned to death, while hundreds of people were watching. Nobody could do anything to save them from the brutal punishment," an eyewitness told ARA News from Mosul, an ISIS stronghold that was captured two years ago.

Thousands of women and girls were abducted by ISIS militants when the jihadist group invaded the Sinjar region in northern Iraq in August 2014. Hundreds of civilians were slaughtered and more than 400,000 forced to flee. Around 5,000 were taken captive, 3,000 of whom are believed to remain hostage.

Women and girls who have managed to escape have told stories of brutal abuse. They have been bartered and sold for as little as a packet of cigarettes, and kept in dungeons as sex slaves.

In 2014, ISIS issued guidelines specifying how its followers were to treat their female slaves.

A Q&A leaflet detailed exactly how they may buy, sell and abuse "unbelieving" women – thought to mean all those who are not Sunni Muslims.

It clarified that "It is permissible to have intercourse with the female slave who hasn't reached puberty if she is fit for intercourse," and any female slave who attempts to run away is to be "reprimanded in a way that deters others like her from escaping".

Yazidism is an offshoot of Zoroastrianism, which blends ancient religious traditions with both Christianity and Islam. ISIS believes them to be "devil-worshippers".

related articles
'Forgive them': UN hears of horrific ISIS brutality at #WeAreN Christian persecution conference

'Forgive them': UN hears of horrific ISIS brutality at #WeAreN Christian persecution conference

Church of England helps Yazidis to get official recognition for their faith
Church of England helps Yazidis to get official recognition for their faith

Church of England helps Yazidis to get official recognition for their faith

Raped, murdered and persecuted by ISIS: The plight of Yazidis in Iraq
Raped, murdered and persecuted by ISIS: The plight of Yazidis in Iraq

Raped, murdered and persecuted by ISIS: The plight of Yazidis in Iraq

Last words of Christian girl, 12, burnt to death by ISIS: 'Forgive them'

Last words of Christian girl, 12, burnt to death by ISIS: 'Forgive them'

ISIS tries to sell sex slaves on social media
ISIS tries to sell sex slaves on social media

ISIS tries to sell sex slaves on social media

News
Poverty and destitution is driving our mental health crisis - and Christians must act
Poverty and destitution is driving our mental health crisis - and Christians must act

We must acknowledge Britain’s shameful poverty crisis as the major driver of mental illness in this country, says ex-gangster turned bishop.

MSP wants to expand Scotland's controversial abortion buffer zones
MSP wants to expand Scotland's controversial abortion buffer zones

Perhaps one day all of Scotland will be a buffer zone.

Why the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed matters
Why the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed matters

You might be wondering: what does a fourth-century church meeting have to do with me today? Actually, quite a lot.

Calvin Robinson loses priest licence after just 9 days in new denomination
Calvin Robinson loses priest licence after just 9 days in new denomination

The Reformed Episcopal Church has withdrawn its licence from Fr Calvin Robinson, the second such incident in the life of the controversial cleric in just five months.