A photo exhibit in London, Ont. features Yazidi women who survived ISIS captivity, sharing their stories of resilience and loss. Organised by King’s University College, it highlights the ongoing struggles for closure and community remembrance following the 2014 genocide against the Yazidi people.
A photo exhibit in London, Ont., highlights the resilience of Yazidi women who survived ISIS captivity. Organized by researchers at King’s University College, it features stories from 13 women, including Nidhal Ahmed, who was captured in 2014 and held for nearly two years with her children. The exhibit aims to document their experiences during and after the genocide that displaced around 400,000 Yazidis from Iraq. Ahmed shared her pre-2014 life, stating, “Our life was very good before 2014. I lived with my husband and our two kids… I never saw my husband again and I’ve lost so many family members.” Following her escape during a chaotic airstrike, Ahmed is among 1,200 survivors who resettled in Canada in 2017. The exhibit not only focuses on trauma but also celebrates the strength and bond of family amidst loss. Professor Lisa McLean emphasised the importance of acknowledging these experiences: “Members of the Yazidi community really want to ensure that Canadians don’t forget about them and the many losses this community is still enduring.” The project aims to build understanding around grief and support for those affected, with a goal of securing a permanent venue for the exhibit in the community. Survivors continue to seek closure regarding missing loved ones and wish for government support in identifying mass graves of ISIS victims, providing answers to the questions of loss they carry.
The article discusses a photo exhibit centred around the experiences of Yazidi women who endured captivity at the hands of ISIS militants. It sheds light on the ongoing struggles faced by survivors in Canada and their efforts to document their stories and losses. The Yazidi community has suffered greatly since the genocide in 2014, which led to mass displacement and violence against their community. The exhibit helps illuminate their resilience and the importance of remembrance.
The photo exhibit serves not only as a platform for the Yazidi women’s harrowing stories but also as a reminder of the wider community’s responsibility to remember and support those impacted by genocide. Through art and storytelling, the exhibit fosters understanding of grief, resilience, and the ongoing quest for closure in the face of loss.
Original Source: www.cbc.ca