According to reports, in February 2021, Turkish police arrested Sebbah Ali Oruc, a former ISIS leader in Ankara, and rescued a Yazidi child who was 7 years old at the time, from Oruc’s family. The Yazidi girl was handed over to the Ministry of Family and Social Services. After some time, however, Oruc was released and the Yazidi girl was returned to the ISIS family. Following public outcry the child was placed once again under state protection.
"It's a strange thing. The issue is a big scandal. The Ministry of Family and Social Services is being negligent and is not focusing on the case," said Yusuf Dere, a lawyer in Ankara about the case.
“The relevant immigrant authorities have also ignored this matter. The local authorities of Sevgi Evi [the place where the Yazidi girl used to live] are also being negligent. I believe that behind those people there are those who help them, so this scandal is very suspicious,” he added.
According to figures from the Yazidi Abductee Affairs Office in Duhok, more than 6,400 Yazidis were abducted when ISIS took over their heartland of Shingal in August 2014, launching a brutal genocidal campaign against the ethno-religious minority. Over 2,000 remain missing.
"As relevant commissions and the women's council, we closely follow the case. We also participate in the court process and make the necessary statements,” Halîde Turkoglu, the Spokesperson of the Women's Council of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HEDEP), told Rudaw.
“There are many responsibilities of parliament and official bodies. The important question is how they brought this girl here, and how they crossed the border. Is it a case of human trafficking? A massacre was committed in Shingal by ISIS, one that many were complicit in."
Oruc’s trial is being carried out as a “secret trial,” meaning it is not open to the public. The second hearing has been postponed to January 8, 2024.
An arrest warrant was issued for him on October 26.
Several Yazidi survivors have been found in Turkey in recent years.
Syria’s al-Hol camp is also known to hold many Yazidi women and children taken captive by the terror group. Officials believe as many as 500 Yazidis are in the camp – known for holding thousands of families with suspected links to ISIS.
