The Yazidi Healer: Dr. Nagham Nawzat's Fight to Restore Lives After IS Genocide

Shireen's Ordeal: Kidnapped on the Day of the Attack

Shireen was studying for a high school examination at her home in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar on 3 August 2014 when Islamic State group militants broke into her house and kidnapped her from her family. At the age of 19 she was sold as a sex slave to an IS militant in the north-western city of Tal Afar. Three months later Shireen was sold once again to Abu Omar another IS fighter in Mosul to become his third wife.

She recounts that Abu Omar said he loved her yet when love is present rape does not occur. The experience destroyed her life. Abu Omar already had two Iraqi wives who lived in a separate house yet they used to beat her whenever they got together. Shireen's account forms one of thousands of stories from Yazidi women who endured the raw cruelty of IS captivity.

Dr. Nagham Nawzat Provides Medical and Psychological Care

Nagham Nawzat a Yazidi doctor from Sinjar has dedicated herself to healing these women. Despite threats on her own life Nawzat has provided essential medical and psychological support to more than 1,000 Yazidi women and girls who were captured and enslaved by IS. As a trained gynaecologist she treats the physical scars of sexual violence while also offering psychological support to help women reintegrate into their communities after the trauma of captivity.

Many of the women she treats were raped repeatedly forced to convert to Islam and beaten. Some were sold multiple times between different IS fighters. Nawzat herself lost family members in the IS assault on Sinjar. She continues her work despite personal loss and constant threats. The doctor has trained other medical professionals in treating survivors of sexual violence and has advocated internationally for the recognition of IS atrocities as genocide. She has documented testimonies used in human rights reports and legal proceedings.

The 2014 IS Genocide Against the Yazidis in Sinjar

The Yazidi community a religious minority in northern Iraq was devastated by the IS onslaught in August 2014. Thousands were killed and over 6,000 women and girls were kidnapped. Many remain missing. Nawzat lost family members during this period when militants killed thousands of Yazidi men and took women and girls as sex slaves. The assault left deep scars across the Sinjar region and displaced entire communities.

For those who escaped or were rescued the road to recovery remains long. Nawzat's clinic provides a safe space where survivors can receive medical care without stigma. The psychological trauma is profound with many survivors struggling with nightmares flashbacks and severe depression. Some have attempted suicide. Her efforts focus on addressing both physical injuries and the mental health consequences that follow repeated violence and forced conversions.

Religious and Cultural Background of the Yazidi Community

The Yazidis believe in Yasdan a god who emanates seven angels. The angel they revere above all others is Melek Tawwus or the Peacock Angel. Shireen was told by IS that Melek Tawwus was the devil and so was forced to convert to Islam. Yazidis have faced 74 genocides throughout their history a fact that weighs heavily on the community and shapes their collective memory of persecution.

This historical context informs the current struggle as survivors navigate reintegration after captivity. Nawzat works to create environments where women can speak about their experiences without fear of judgment rooted in longstanding community traditions. The repeated targeting of Yazidis over centuries underscores the vulnerability of this minority group in northern Iraq.

Resilience of Yazidi Women Survivors

Nawzat says she sees remarkable resilience in the women she treats. They have survived the worst that humanity can offer and they still find the strength to rebuild their lives. Her motivation comes from seeing the women return to their families and communities and slowly begin to heal. The clinic serves as a place where survivors can access care that supports both physical recovery and emotional stability.

Many women face ongoing challenges including the stigma sometimes attached to their experiences yet Nawzat emphasizes their determination to move forward. Her training of other professionals extends this support network allowing more survivors to receive consistent care. The focus remains on practical steps toward reintegration rather than on the recognition she has received.

International Recognition and the Ongoing Struggle for Justice

Nawzat has been nominated for several international human rights awards for her work though she says the recognition is not why she does it. The United Nations Commission of Inquiry has documented IS crimes against the Yazidi community including murder enslavement torture and forced conversion describing them as genocide. In December 2022 the trial of an IS member for genocide against the Yazidis began in Germany marking a historic moment.

For many survivors justice remains elusive. Thousands of Yazidi women and girls are still missing their fates unknown. Nawzat continues to document testimonies that contribute to human rights reports and legal proceedings while threats against her persist. Her advocacy highlights the need for sustained attention to the cases of those who have not yet returned.

Image: (Global 1 News)