The systematic abduction of Sinjar women

The true horrors experienced by Yazidi women who were last year abducted by the Islamic State group, after it attacked Sinjar in north-east Iraq, are only slowly coming to light now.

With every survivor who manages to escape from IS, more information is revealed about the group's despicable and gut-wrenching practices towards its captives.

However, the ordeal of Yazidis does not end with their escape from IS captivity, as they usually face unspeakable psychological and physical trauma due to the brutality they experienced at the hands of the militant group and sometimes others.

Such experiences will no doubt remain with the victims throughout their lives and shape their physical and psychological states. Furthermore, it is likely the effects of these experiences will not only be individual, but will contribute to the collective trauma of the entire Yazidi community.

The objective... was to demonstrate the group's brutality and strength and spread horror among its opponents

Based on statements and information gathered by activists and human rights organisations from Yazidi survivors and refugees, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that IS had laid out a systematic plan to abduct Yazidi women and children, which was executed in stages.

Abduction

The systematic nature of the abductions from Sinjar and surrounding areas demonstrates that IS had methodically planned to carry out the abductions and did not just arbitrarily abduct the women after storming the area.

The objective behind the abductions, analysts say, was to demonstrate the group's brutality and strength and spread horror among its opponents in order to demoralise them and convince them of the futility of resistance.

The majority of women abducted from the Sinjar area were brought to the town centre, where they were held in the town hall, the local police headquarters and the headquarters of the Kurdish Democratic Party. They were then moved to Mosul through Tal Afar, and to Syria through Baaj.

In Mosul, the IS group had already prepared locations to hold the abducted women, such as one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces and a number of wedding halls, which were equipped with blankets and water in addition to security personnel.

The group then began to register the names and details of the abducted women - and proceeded to sell them off.

According to testimonies from survivors, the IS group separated women who were related to each other, such as mothers and daughters or sisters, in order to terrorise the abducted women and break their will.

Another reason for separating women from their relatives was for their families to lose hope of ever finding their relatives again.

The logistical planning required by the mas kidnapping on such a scale prove that the abduction, transfer and sale of these women was carried out systematically, and according to a plan.