The Unyielding Quest: Activists Work to Rescue Yazidi Women Abducted by ISIS

As the world forgets, a relentless band of activists and volunteers strive to find the Yazidi women and girls still missing since the rise of ISIS, shedding light on their tragic fates amidst apathy from global organizations.

In a world that has largely moved on from the horrors inflicted by ISIS militants, a determined coalition of searchers remains devoted to a mission that many believe is lost: locating the Yazidi women and girls kidnapped a decade ago. Some are presumed dead, others may have been subjected to sexual slavery, and a few are trapped in detention camps, yet their stories linger, haunting those left behind.

This movement is fueled not by international agencies, but by a patchwork of activists, family members, and ordinary individuals, often dubbed "armchair detectives." Their collective effort stands as a testament to hope in the face of neglect. Among them is Pari Ibrahim, the executive director of a nonprofit based in suburban Maryland, who tirelessly manages her day job while dedicating her evenings to scouring photographs of missing women.

Before her computer screen, she meticulously compares images sent by desperate families — a young girl’s innocent face beside that of an older woman shrouded in black hijab. "Ten years brings a lot of change into someone’s face and appearance," she reflects, making her task ever so complicated. "It’s not easy."

The Yazidi community, targeted in a sinister campaign of violence by ISIS in 2014, became the victims of widespread atrocities; according to a United Nations report, thousands were seized, murdered, and subjected to abuse. Out of approximately 6,800 individuals captured, many remain unaccounted for.

Though official agencies have receded into the shadows, the ardent efforts of this makeshift army of volunteers signify a glimmer of hope in the ongoing darkness that envelops the lives of so many. Their resolve is emblematic of the enduring bond with the lost souls of the Yazidi community — a bond that fuels their relentless search for justice and reunification.