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2/ Last Thursday, I saw the tweet of SDF spokesperson @mustefabali.
In it, he explained that SDF has found in #Baghouz 4 young Iraqi Shia boys who were kidnapped by ISIS years ago.
He asked for help in finding their families.
@akhbar
In it, he explained that SDF has found in #Baghouz 4 young Iraqi Shia boys who were kidnapped by ISIS years ago.
He asked for help in finding their families.
@akhbar
3/ In order to find the families of the 4 Iraqi boys who were liberated from their ISIS kidnappers, I sent the video to countless Iraqi activists & journalist (in public &in private.)
I asked them to spread vid among their contacts in hope family of kids would notice.
@akhbar
I asked them to spread vid among their contacts in hope family of kids would notice.
@akhbar
4/ The first clue came from @thestevennabil Facebook page.
Steven published the video on his Facebook page and luckily a cousin of the kids identified them.
Steven then put me in touch with the cousin.
Steven published the video on his Facebook page and luckily a cousin of the kids identified them.
Steven then put me in touch with the cousin.
5/ The cousin then put me in touch with the father &brother of the Iraqi kids.
The family was in Talafar. They saw the vid, identified the kids but didnt know how to proceed.
I put family in touch with @mustefabali who gave them assurances SDF is taking good care of the kids.
The family was in Talafar. They saw the vid, identified the kids but didnt know how to proceed.
I put family in touch with @mustefabali who gave them assurances SDF is taking good care of the kids.
6/ The family of the 4 Iraqi boys thought all these years that their children were dead. Mother is still missing. She was also kidnapped by ISIS.
Very emotional moment when I spoke to the father and confirmed to him that his sons are safe.
@akhbar
Very emotional moment when I spoke to the father and confirmed to him that his sons are safe.
@akhbar
7/ The family wanted to speak to the kids right away. But wars are chaotic and by then the kids were transported away from the frontline to a safe house in a different area.
It's the same safe house that takes care of Yazidi kids liberated from ISIS slavery.
@akhbar
It's the same safe house that takes care of Yazidi kids liberated from ISIS slavery.
@akhbar
8/ The head of the Yazidi house where the Iraqi kids were sleeping spoke to the father of the children.
He assured him that kids are safe, had a shower, ate properly, got new clothes &were medically checked.
It's now just a matter of coordination to send them back to Iraq.
He assured him that kids are safe, had a shower, ate properly, got new clothes &were medically checked.
It's now just a matter of coordination to send them back to Iraq.
9/ In the meantime, I was contacted by other families in Talafar who have loved ones kidnapped by ISIS.
When they knew I'm involved in bringing the kidnapped kids & family together, they sent me pics with circles around their own missing family members. I blurred to share 😔
When they knew I'm involved in bringing the kidnapped kids & family together, they sent me pics with circles around their own missing family members. I blurred to share 😔
10/ And this is when I started to realize the size of the tragedy.
In addition to the thousands of missing Yazidis, hundreds of Shia Iraqis from Turkmen minority were also taken by ISIS. Women & kids.
One father I spoke to said one of his sons was 3 months old when kidnapped.
In addition to the thousands of missing Yazidis, hundreds of Shia Iraqis from Turkmen minority were also taken by ISIS. Women & kids.
One father I spoke to said one of his sons was 3 months old when kidnapped.
11/ Sadly, I cannot help the other families who approached me.
@mustefabali also told me that the SDF didn't liberate more people who are originally from Talafar. So far, SDF only found the kids who appear in the video.
@mustefabali also told me that the SDF didn't liberate more people who are originally from Talafar. So far, SDF only found the kids who appear in the video.
12/ As u know, logistics in a war zone are very challenging.
The family couldn't wait for the children to be sent to Iraq. Last night, they told me the father managed to drive from Iraq to Syria &reach his liberated children in Syria.
For 5 years he thought his kids were dead.
The family couldn't wait for the children to be sent to Iraq. Last night, they told me the father managed to drive from Iraq to Syria &reach his liberated children in Syria.
For 5 years he thought his kids were dead.
13/ And today the excellent news: The father & his children reached Iraq!
After all those years in hands of ISIS, they're finally back home, can u imagine?!
I am now not in Syria nor Iraq but they immediately called me. I spoke to the family including kids over facebook. ❤🙏
After all those years in hands of ISIS, they're finally back home, can u imagine?!
I am now not in Syria nor Iraq but they immediately called me. I spoke to the family including kids over facebook. ❤🙏
14/ In addition to the 4 boys from Turkmen minority, 10+ Yazidi kids also taken by ISIS arrived today back with their families in Sinjar.
Among all tears & bad endings in Syria/Iraq, every now and then a moment of joy & a good ending.
This is one of these rare days.
@akhbar
Among all tears & bad endings in Syria/Iraq, every now and then a moment of joy & a good ending.
This is one of these rare days.
@akhbar
15/ This is a video showing the arrival of the Turkmen and Yazidi childrens who were for years kidnapped by ISIS in Sinjar mountains yesterday.
They received a hero's welcome. ❤
@akhbar
They received a hero's welcome. ❤
@akhbar
16/ And when the Turkmen children arrived home, the family had a special meal in celebration of their return.
They sent me this photo.
Physically the kids are okay but the youngest forgot how to speak Turkmen.
@akhbar
They sent me this photo.
Physically the kids are okay but the youngest forgot how to speak Turkmen.
@akhbar
19/ @nabihbulos visits the 3 kids at their home in #Talafar.
The boys’ homecoming should have been a moment of joy. But those who make it back from ISIS return to ravaged communities &families ill-equipped to heal the scars of their time with extremists.
latimes.com/world/la-fg-ir…
The boys’ homecoming should have been a moment of joy. But those who make it back from ISIS return to ravaged communities &families ill-equipped to heal the scars of their time with extremists.
latimes.com/world/la-fg-ir…
20/ The children were made to wear Kandahari-style clothes &put in intensive program of religious study, punctuated by beatings for any perceived bad behavior.
“If we didn’t do well, they would hit us. One poured gasoline on a kid with us because he made a hole in a mattress.”
“If we didn’t do well, they would hit us. One poured gasoline on a kid with us because he made a hole in a mattress.”
21/ When you read this thread, ask yourself one question: why are the stories of the culprits (ISIS men & women) getting more airtime than the victims of ISIS?
