Turkish Ministry Decides to Return Kidnapped Ezidi Girl to ISIS Family

In a shocking and unprecedented legal case, Turkish authorities have arrested an ISIS member on charges of “international human trafficking” after a Ezidi girl was kidnapped and smuggled into Turkey. However, the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs has faced severe backlash for allowing the same girl, who had been previously placed in a state dormitory, to be returned to the custody of the very ISIS family that abducted her.

Rescued in 2021

The Ezidi child was rescued from an ISIS compound in Ankara in February 2021, following a daring police and intelligence operation. What made this case even more harrowing was the revelation that ISIS operatives had listed the young girl for sale on the dark web, underlining the horrors of human trafficking that have plagued this region.

The operation led to the arrest of three Iraqi citizens – Anas Varda, Nasser Khalaf Rasheed, and Sabah Ali Oruç – on charges of kidnapping and holding the girl against her will. However, despite initial arrests, the subsequent legal proceedings took an unsettling turn.

While Anas V. and Nasır H.R. were released from custody just a month after their arrest, Sabah Ali Oruç remained imprisoned in Sincan F-type prison. By August 2021, all three alleged abductors were free, further deepening the concerns surrounding the girl’s safety and well-being.

Testimony and Shocking Revelations

During the legal proceedings, Sabah Ali Oruç’s testimony provided chilling details regarding the child’s origin. He claimed that the child had been purchased by his late brother in Iraq for $500 back in 2014 when she was just about two years old. Oruç maintained his innocence throughout, attributing her acquisition and naming to his late brother’s actions.

Moreover, it was revealed that Oruç had managed to infiltrate the Turkish borders in 2018 using a forged passport, successfully smuggling his family, including the young Ezidi girl, into the country. In a shocking turn of events, the Ankara provincial migration office issued the girl an identity card that directly linked her to Oruç’s family.

Under the pressure of financial duress, Sabah Ali Oruç placed the girl up for sale online in February 2021. However, this criminal endeavor was swiftly brought to an end as the Ankara police conducted a counterterrorism operation and arrested Oruç. The child was then handed over to the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs for her protection.

The most baffling aspect of this situation emerged when Sabah Ali Oruç was released from detention after serving a mere four months behind bars. This raised serious concerns about the efficiency of the legal system in dealing with such heinous crimes.

The Ongoing Search for the Girl’s Family

Efforts to locate the Ezidi girl’s family have, unfortunately, been unsuccessful. There is speculation that her parents may have been victims of the ISIS Sinjar massacre in 2014, adding another layer of tragedy to her already heartbreaking story. Since early 2021, the child was under the care of the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs.

Legal Proceedings and Controversial Decision

Following the release of the alleged ISIS members, lawyers in Ankara collectively filed a lawsuit against them, charging them with “crimes against humanity” and “international human trafficking.” As the legal proceedings continued, a social worker’s testimony brought to light a shocking and deeply unsettling decision made by the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs.

The social worker revealed that the Ministry had granted custody of the Ezidi girl to the same ISIS-affiliated family who had previously kidnapped her. This decision sent shockwaves through the public, raising serious questions about the effectiveness and ethics of child safeguarding in Turkey.

However, the prosecutor’s office, while accepting the charge of human trafficking, ruled out the possibility of “crimes against humanity,” arguing that the ISIS members did not exhibit malicious intent such as organ theft or forced labor. This decision has only further fueled the controversy surrounding the case.

Public Outcry and Calls for Accountability

The revelation of this decision has led to widespread public outcry and condemnation. Concerned citizens, legal associations, and human rights organizations have raised their voices in protest, demanding accountability and justice for the Ezidi girl and a thorough investigation into the Ministry’s decision.

Notable journalist Hale Gonultas, known for her extensive series on ISIS’s resurgence in Turkey, has been closely following the child’s situation from Iraq. During the legal proceedings, Gonultas challenged the social worker’s claims and confronted her with the facts. However, she was removed from the courtroom by the police, and her request to testify as an expert witness was denied by the court.

The Upcoming Trial

The first hearing of the trial on charges of smuggling the girl into Turkey and unlawfully detaining her was scheduled for 27 October 2023 at the Ankara 15th High Criminal Court. This trial has the potential to shed further light on the controversial decisions made by the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs and the circumstances surrounding the Ezidi girl’s return to the ISIS-affiliated family.

As the trial unfolds, many will be watching closely, hoping for justice to prevail and for the rights and safety of the young Ezidi girl to be protected. The case serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and ensuring that decisions are made with their best interests at heart, rather than allowing them to fall victim to the very horrors they have escaped.