In August 2014, the world stood witness to the atrocities of the Islamic State (ISIS) as it unleashed a brutal genocide against the ancient Yazidi people living in Iraq’s Sinjar region. Faces of Persecution: 10 Years On: The Yazidi Genocide documentary is a visual journey, delving into the harrowing executions of Yazidi men and boys, and kidnapping and sexual slavery of women and girls by ISIS. It profiles the courageous escape of two Yazidi girls, Hala Safil and Faiza Qasim, and their unrelenting, resilient commitment to their religious belief as a voice for thousands who remain in ISIS captivity.
The documentary follows Hala Safil, who as a vibrant 16-year-old was kidnapped and thrust into the unimaginable trauma of extended sexual slavery. Sharing the details of her harrowing escape viewers learn of the ordeal that continues to haunt her as she struggles to rebuild her life in a crowded Iraqi refugee camp, yet her spirit remains unbroken.
Faiza Qasim was just 10 years old when she endured the shared trauma of slavery alongside her mother and younger brothers. Sold to multiple slave owners, they managed to escape after years in captivity. Now living as a refugee in Canada, Faiza is her ailing mother’s caretaker.
Hala and Faiza’s stories provide viewers an opportunity to witness the devastating impact of the Genocide against the Yazidi people whose ancient faith ISIS deemed sacrilegious. Unveiling multiple stories of former sex slaves, the documentary highlights the remarkable resilience of survivors of modern-day religious persecution. As a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable ordeal driven by religious supremacy, 10 Years On: The Yazidi Genocide documentary serves as a stark reminder that on the 10th anniversary, over 2,700 Yazidi women and girls remain in ISIS captivity as their plight for freedom continues.
CAST
Faiza Qasim was 10 years old when she was abducted and enslaved by ISIS alongside her mother and younger brothers. They were sold multiple times before they escaped after years in captivity. Resettling in Canada, her life remains on hold as she cares for her ailing mother. Faiza’s 15 family members remain missing.
Hala Safil was kidnapped by ISIS at 16 and thrust into extended sexual slavery. Despite her trauma, she managed a harrowing escape after years of being raped, sold, and brutalized. While struggling to rebuild her life in a crowded Iraqi refugee camp, her spirits remain unbroken as she continues searching for missing immediate family members.
Mirza Dinayi, co-founder of Air Bridge Iraq is a 2019 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity Laureate, details his death-defying helicopter rescues of Yazidis trapped on Mt. Sinjar amidst the Genocide. After surviving a crash, he resettled over 1,000 victimized Yazidi women and children in Germany and dedicated his $1M Aurora prize to build The House of Co-Existence in Sinjar (Iraq).
Matthew Travis Barber, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago specializing in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, holds an MA degree from the University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies. During the summer of 2014, he was teaching and conducting research in northern Iraq as ISIS unleashed the genocide against the Yazidis. Barber emerged as an advocate, raising awareness about the Genocide and accompanying Iraqi Yazidi leaders during White House visits. He took a leave of absence to work in Iraq full-time, becoming a voice for the Yazidis while leading a local NGO’s humanitarian relief and advocacy efforts for the Yazidi community for which he received the University of Chicago Student Humanitarian Award.
Knox Thames is an international human rights lawyer, advocate, and author whose work has focused on promoting human rights, defending religious minorities, and combatting persecution. As the author of “Stop Persecution” (University of Notre Dame Press, 2024), he spent over 20 years under Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations, working in the U.S. government’s freedom of religion or belief and foreign policy commissions. His expertise in South/Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and U.S. foreign policy relating to human rights, led to his appointment as U.S. State Department Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South/central Asia. As a Senior Fellow at Pepperdine University, he now leads the Program on Global Faith and Inclusive Societies, and is a non-resident Senior Visiting Expert at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Pastor Dr. William Devlin is an internationally recognized humanitarian and missionary advocate who has devoted his life to providing aid to some the world’s most troubled regions. As co-pastor of the South Bronx (NY) Infinity Bible Church, he’s the national president of REDEEM, an organization assisting persecuted people and groups in the U.S. and worldwide. After enlisting in the Navy in 1970, he was wounded off the coast of N. Vietnam and received the Purple Heart. He spends much of his time in the Middle East, offering faith, humanitarian aid for refugees, and advocating for persecuted communities across numerous countries. Pastor Devlin’s unique educational background includes among many degrees, a degree in nursing, extensive ministry experience, capped by his recent doctorate in Ministry/Life Coaching focused on urban emotional trauma.
