They Turned Us Into the Enemy of Our Own Children

Since the 2014 genocidal ISIS attack, the Ezidi people still face a devastating and existential crisis. Most of the focus has been directed towards the atrocities committed against the women, and unfortunately, the fate of the abducted Ezidi boys is rarely discussed. It is unclear why this horrendous part of the genocide campaign receives so little attention. Perhaps no one knows they are still alive. But one fact remains: these Ezidi boys have come to hate us — the Ezidis — because ISIS has indoctrinated them to do so.

From 2014 to 2017, the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) carried out a genocidal campaign against the Ezidi people in Iraq. Among the most harrowing aspects of this violence was the systematic abduction of hundreds of Ezidi boys. Torn from their families, these children were subjected to brutal forms of indoctrination and military training aimed at transforming them into soldiers for the so-called caliphate.

Once captured, the boys were separated from their parents and siblings, often never to see them again. They were given new Arabic names, beaten, and forced to convert to Islam. Under strict control, they were trained in ISIS military camps and taught to use weapons, assemble explosives, and endure harsh physical regimes. Some were placed on the frontlines of combat; others were made to serve as guards, informants, or even suicide bombers.

These children were not merely passive victims—they were coerced into participating in acts of violence. Some were forced to witness or carry out executions, including against fellow Ezidis. Others were made to spy on other prisoners, or used as pawns in psychological warfare. The combination of trauma, indoctrination, and forced complicity left deep scars.

Even after liberation or escape, the challenges continued. Reintegration into Ezidi society has been fraught with difficulty. Many returnees are burdened by psychological trauma, feelings of shame, or a sense of alienation. Families often struggle to understand or address the profound impact of the abuse. Despite efforts by NGOs and the Ezidi families, specialised mental health support and reintegration services remain limited.

Legally, while some ISIS crimes—such as sexual slavery and genocide—have been prosecuted in courts like Germany’s Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt, the forced recruitment of Ezidi boys as child soldiers has not been sufficiently addressed. International justice mechanisms have yet to fully recognize or respond to the use of these children in armed conflict, leaving a significant accountability gap.

The Ezidi boys who were turned into fighters are both victims and survivors. Their stories expose not only the brutality of ISIS but also the shortcomings of post-conflict recovery and justice. Without targeted support and legal recognition of their experiences, their suffering risks being overlooked in the broader narrative of the genocide.

We are left with a painful truth: the Ezidi people have not only lost their children to ISIS — in some cases, the boys who return no longer see us as their own. And so we ask ourselves: is it more painful to lose a child, or to have one return and see you as the enemy?