Saying goodbye from afar.
Today is a painful day for Zainab.
In fact, every day has been painful since her husband was brutally murdered by ISIS militants 6 years ago, his body thrown in a mass grave with hundreds of other bodies that, until now, have never been properly identified or ceremoniously buried.
A massacre grave site in Iraq
Zainab is from a town called Kocho in Iraq, where some of the worst atrocities committed against Yezidi people occurred. Nearly all the village’s men and boys were shot dead, some were buried alive, and the young women and girls were sold into sexual slavery by ISIS militants.
Zainab is a single mother making her way in a new land, on the other side of the world. Although she feels safe in Australia, the physical distance doesn't separate the anguish and loss that took place in her homeland. The wounds of war are deep, and the ripples spread far.
Today Zainab watches from afar as a funeral procession is held to commemorate the 104 victims who were recently exhumed from a mass grave in Kocho and identified by DNA testing - one of them was her husband. The father of her children.
A burial will take place this weekend in Kocho, a burial she can't attend in person.
Funeral procession for Yezidi victims who were killed in 2014’s ISIS attacks in Kocho, Iraq.
Zainab is one of thousands of Yezidi women who share the heartbreaking story of losing their husbands in the 2014 ISIS attacks. There are also grandparents, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers and friends who are grieving deeply as their special ones are found and identified. The entire Yezidi community suffers and bleeds together at the acts of genocide that robbed their families and displaced their people group.
There are still around 2800 Yezidi family members missing.
We ask that you extend gentleness to refugees as they integrate in Australia. Their stories are often filled with incredible loss and heartache. Learning a new way of life and language is even more challenging after experiencing extreme trauma. Listening and learning from our refugee neighbours are often keys to unlocking empathy and positive action in us.
At You Belong, we facilitate a Post-Traumatic Growth program called GROW and we are pioneering a children’s program soon called Heroes Journey. We walk alongside individuals as they embark on the journey towards hope, building a sense of belonging in community, and participating in initiatives that lead to holistic rehabilitation.
Be part of the You Belong community by donating to our empowering initiatives, or volunteering on a team.
*Zainab’s name changed for privacy reasons.
