A Yazidi survivor has come forward with claims that she was raped by a suspected British ISIS member known as the Beatle while she was held captive in Syria. The survivor, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, alleges that she was held at an ISIS brothel in Raqqa for six months where she experienced repeated sexual assault at the hands of London-born Aine Davis. Davis, who was recently jailed on terrorism charges, has been linked to the infamous ISIS death squad known as The Beatles.
The Yazidi people, a religious and ethnic minority in northern Iraq, were targeted by ISIS militants in a brutal attack in 2014. Thousands of Yazidis were murdered or kidnapped, and many women and children were subjected to sexual violence, slavery, and forced recruitment as child soldiers. Lina, the survivor in this case, was one of the thousands of individuals abducted by ISIS and held captive in Raqqa. She claims that she was raped up to eight times a day by ISIS fighters, including Davis.
Lina managed to escape in 2018 after being sold multiple times to different soldiers. With the help of her brother, she was able to flee and seek safety near the Iraqi border. Davis, a former drug dealer, was deported from Turkey and subsequently detained in the UK on terrorism charges. He was recently sentenced to eight years in prison for possession of a firearm and funding terrorism. However, he has not yet faced charges for his alleged crimes against the Yazidis.
In an effort to seek justice, Lina and her lawyer are calling for British ISIS fighters, including Davis, to face prosecution in the UK. They are inspired by the recent conviction of a female ISIS member in Germany for enslaving and abusing a Yazidi woman. The lawyer emphasizes the need for comprehensive proceedings against ISIS members to address the crimes committed against the Yazidi community.
International investigators are also working to gather evidence against ISIS fighters for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. They have identified individuals involved in managing the slave trade and collecting phone call records that will strengthen their case against the perpetrators.
The survivors and advocates for justice hope that by speaking out and pushing for prosecutions, they can ensure that the Yazidi community receives the justice they deserve. They believe that it is crucial to hold ISIS members accountable for their heinous crimes and prevent the world from forgetting the plight of the Yazidi people.
