ISIS Sex Slaves: How Terrorism Fuels Human Trafficking

Commentary

Every 26 seconds, a child is trafficked globally. An unapologetic documentary available on EpochTV Cinema uncovers the horrors of sex trafficking in the Iraq region and the devastating effects of poor foreign policy and terrorism worldwide. Through raw and intimate interviews, “26 Seconds–ISIS Sex Slaves,” by Kelly Galindo, gives viewers a vivid glimpse into the lives of children and women who were captured and sold into the sex slave trade. It reveals the horrors of their captivity, along with the efforts of individuals and non-profit organizations who are committed to eradicating global sex trafficking.

Video footage from the EpochTV Cinema film “26 Seconds—ISIS Sex Slaves” about the sex trafficking of Yazidis and Christians in Iraq. EpochTV/Screenshot via The Epoch Times

Modern Day Slavery

There are more enslaved people today than at any other time in history, with sex trafficking being the most common form. The film takes viewers to Iraq, which, since the ousting of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the aftermath of decades of dictatorship, has struggled to chart a democratic course for its people. According to the film, the U.S. decision to ban the political Baath Party disbanded the military and created a political vacuum and security void ripe for exploitation. After many tumultuous years, an extremist insurgency seized a third of the country.

With the fall of the capital city of Nineveh province, Mosul, in 2014, the ISIS terrorist group carried out the genocide of Yazidis in the Sinjar area. Live footage details the expulsion and exile of the Yazidis from their ancestral lands and the imposition of ISIS ideologies onto the remaining population. ISIS declared itself a worldwide caliphate, claiming authority over all Muslims. Their main goal: to implement a global Islamic State. The decision was to agree with them or be killed.

Video footage from the EpochTV Cinema film “26 Seconds—ISIS Sex Slaves” about the sex trafficking of Yazidis and Christians in Iraq. EpochTV/Screenshot via The Epoch Times

Testimonies from women and children detail how ISIS captured whole families, killing the men and elderly and abusing and oppressing the women and children. The documentary follows the efforts of pastors and international leaders to rescue victims through high-risk undercover operations.

ISIS Sex Trade

Victims attest to the merciless rape and torture of the women and children by ISIS members. The women said that ISIS told them whoever converted to Islam would escape such treatment, but even when civilians complied, they would simply be accused of not being Muslim at heart, and the abuse would continue. In addition to the abuse of the women, ISIS implemented aggressive strategies to recruit young boys into their Jihadist movement. The documentary, available on EpochTV, reveals how ISIS is disconnected from the Muslim religion, showing how areas such as the Kurdistan region are committed to respecting all faiths and ethnicities and allowing them to live together in peace.

Once captured, many civilians would be taken to either Mosul or Ar Raqqah. From there, the victims would stand naked in front of soldiers to be auctioned to the highest bidder. Often, ISIS would buy a girl and then sell her again after a week or so. Some houses were run like brothels, with children as young as 8 years old being held.

One victim said the soldiers would take babies as young as three months old. She said her son was only eight months old at the time they were captured. They would lock him in another room, handcuff her from behind, and abuse both of them. Rescuers say the sale of victims has also turned online, with even American traffickers participating. The documentary exposes the disregard for and abuse of the physically and mentally handicapped as well. The captors would sell their slaves to other friends and family members and exploit the families of the victims for money in exchange for their return. But often, when the families paid, they would not receive their loved ones back.

Rescue Missions

The rescue missions involve identifying money transfers and key operatives, then embedding undercover agents into ISIS communities to act as middlemen for money transfers and the smuggling of slaves. The slaves would be brought to safe houses and reunited with their families if they had any family left. Those interviewed say there are still thousands of missing people waiting to be rescued.

The rescuers say that due to liberations taking place throughout Iraq, many ISIS terrorists are blending back into society and evading capture. Peshmerga and coalition forces were able to reclaim the city of Mosul from the ISIS, but local officials say the fight against terrorism is far from over. They call for ongoing commitment to prevent terrorism from taking root and thriving, as well as humanitarian aid to help take care of and heal victims.

Refugee camps focus on offering necessities as well as mentorship and education to help heal and empower the children who have no families to go back to. They say keeping the girls busy with hobbies and education is the primary way to restore their lives and equip them to function and thrive again.

The Significance of US Policy Decisions

Kurdish Commander Gen. Bahram Areef Yasin, says the situation that exists today in Iraq and Syria is a result of the Obama administration’s mistakes and has injured the United States’ standing in the area. The film, available on EpochTV, says that the reality of the genocide perpetrated against Yazidi and Christian people should be a call to the world community and the U.S. government to lead the effort to put an end to ISIS and terrorism.

According to the documentary, the United States has spent trillions of dollars fighting terrorism around the world since 2003. Although ISIS was defeated in Iraq in 2019, it has since emerged in other countries. The botched withdrawal from Afghanistan under the Biden administration resulted in the Taliban taking over. The removal of the U.S. presence in the area has led some to claim the war is now over. However, for some, their fight against terrorism is just beginning. The film says the hurried evacuation will result in the same kind of sex slavery of women and children in Afghanistan that took place in Iraq.

Video footage from the EpochTV Cinema film “26 Seconds—ISIS Sex Slaves” about the sex trafficking of Yazidis and Christians in Iraq. EpochTV/Screenshot via The Epoch Times

Conclusion

The documentary ends with a haunting reminder that 24.9 million victims per year are trafficked globally, with 115 children being sex trafficked during the duration of the film. It offers an eye-opening view of the actual impact terrorism and poor foreign policy decisions have on innocent people worldwide.

The film also highlights the bravery and compassion of those committed to rescuing victims, as well as providing additional resources with tangible ways to get involved in the fight against human trafficking.

Watch “26 Seconds” on EpochTV here.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.