1/ ISIS files I found in Syria show slavery of Yazidis much more institutionalized than previously known.
Docs reveal:
ISIS paid fighters $50 p/m per slave
ISIS Human Resources booklets give number of slaves
ISIS Ministry of Health cards mention nbr of slaves
#ISISfiles 👇👇👇
Docs reveal:
ISIS paid fighters $50 p/m per slave
ISIS Human Resources booklets give number of slaves
ISIS Ministry of Health cards mention nbr of slaves
#ISISfiles 👇👇👇
2/ I found ISIS receipt book with “records of financial support for Mujahid”. It shows monthly salary each fighter gets from ISIS, based on family situation.
Receipt book shows ISIS fighter gets $50 per month if he has a slave &$35 if he has child of a slave.
@akhbar #ISISfiles
Receipt book shows ISIS fighter gets $50 per month if he has a slave &$35 if he has child of a slave.
@akhbar #ISISfiles
3/ I also found booklet issued by "ISIS Human Resources department". Booklet must be carried by all ISIS administrative workers.
In it workers had to answers questions like: How much furniture, weapons did u get from ISIS? Also: How many slaves do u have?
@akhbar #ISISfiles
In it workers had to answers questions like: How much furniture, weapons did u get from ISIS? Also: How many slaves do u have?
@akhbar #ISISfiles
4/ Among #ISISfiles I found in Syria is a card with title "lack of disease card", issued by ISIS Health Ministry. Everybody who wanted to marry in ISIS territory had to fill out one.
Questions on card include: Name, country of origin, number of wives &number of slaves.
@akhbar
Questions on card include: Name, country of origin, number of wives &number of slaves.
@akhbar
5/ Also found pamphlet of “ISIS committee of Research &Fatwa”.
It includes 6 reasons for enslaving women &children. “Enslavement breaks the woman psychologically, makes her choose Islam by force or choice."
This doc already known but again found near Raqqa.
@akhbar #ISISfiles
It includes 6 reasons for enslaving women &children. “Enslavement breaks the woman psychologically, makes her choose Islam by force or choice."
This doc already known but again found near Raqqa.
@akhbar #ISISfiles
6/ After collapse of ISIS in Syria/Iraq, many arrested ISIS members now want to whitewash their role &claim they had no idea slavery existed in ISIS.
But the #ISISfiles I found show slavery is very much widespread in ISIS ranks.
ISIS institutionalized slavery.
@akhbar
But the #ISISfiles I found show slavery is very much widespread in ISIS ranks.
ISIS institutionalized slavery.
@akhbar
7/ Based on #ISISfiles I found, these people in ISIS territory knew about slavery:
-ISIS fighters
-ISIS financial officials
-ISIS administrative workers
-ISIS Human Resources department
-ISIS Ministry of Health (doctors, nurses..)
-Civilian couples wanting to get married
@akhbar
-ISIS fighters
-ISIS financial officials
-ISIS administrative workers
-ISIS Human Resources department
-ISIS Ministry of Health (doctors, nurses..)
-Civilian couples wanting to get married
@akhbar
8/ Let me explain now how I found the #ISISfiles.
In 2017 @haralddoornbos and I were in Tabqa (80km west of Raqqa).
Not easy to find ISIS documents because the group destroys it before they retreat. Or U.S. special forces arrive before reporters &take it to gather info.
In 2017 @haralddoornbos and I were in Tabqa (80km west of Raqqa).
Not easy to find ISIS documents because the group destroys it before they retreat. Or U.S. special forces arrive before reporters &take it to gather info.
9/ But we were lucky. Locals in Tabqa told us that during ISIS times there was an ISIS court located in the Omar ibn al Khattab mosque (location: bit.ly/2uaUGSL ).
People connected to the mosque let us in &said many ISIS documents were still there.
@akhbar #ISISfiles
People connected to the mosque let us in &said many ISIS documents were still there.
@akhbar #ISISfiles
10/ We then entered the mosque. Locals opened a cupboard that had 1000's of #ISISfiles. They let us take it with us. Unfortunately we couldn't carry everything; it was too much.
We then quickly left because Tabqa wasn't very safe- ISIS cells around. Pic of me in mosque. @akhbar
We then quickly left because Tabqa wasn't very safe- ISIS cells around. Pic of me in mosque. @akhbar
11/ Inside the mosque stood a huge sword. Locals explained to us it was used by ISIS to chop off heads, hands, feet.
One man took sword &put it on neck of his friend &demonstrated how people were beheaded during ISIS time.
It was a very eerie atmosphere.
#ISISfiles @akhbar
One man took sword &put it on neck of his friend &demonstrated how people were beheaded during ISIS time.
It was a very eerie atmosphere.
#ISISfiles @akhbar
12/ Eventually we left Tabqa with 5000+ #ISISfiles in bags.
It took us months to copy all files &go thru them, categorize &understand the content.
Files consisted of tel numbers, names, pics, court cases, notes, etc. Of course not all is publishable.
#ISISfiles @akhbar
It took us months to copy all files &go thru them, categorize &understand the content.
Files consisted of tel numbers, names, pics, court cases, notes, etc. Of course not all is publishable.
#ISISfiles @akhbar
13/ Yazidi member of Iraqi parliament @VianDakhil speaks to @akhbar about the importance of #ISISfiles I found in Tabqa, says these documents could be used in Iraqi courts to prosecute Daesh members.
14/ Grateful for prominent Human Rights lawyer Amal Clooney (a fellow countrywoman, we're both Lebanese! ) for commenting on our story, urging the UN team to head to the ground in Syria/Iraq &collect evidence before it's destroyed. @akhbar #ISISfiles
15/ Dutch member of parliament @Martijncda comments on the ISIS documents I found in Syria. Says: "If documents show that slavery was institutionalized then it will be easier for us to prosecute ISIS returnees to Europe."
16/ Thank you all for reacting, sharing and taking interest in my story on the #ISISfiles related to the enslavement of Yazidis I found in Syria. Much much appreciated. Thank you very much.
