The Girl Who Beat ISIS

In August 2014, the life of Farida Khalaf, an ordinary Yazidi girl from a mountainous village in northern Iraq, was shattered. An assault by ISIS militants transformed her world in an instant. These jihadists ruthlessly executed the men and boys of her community, among them her own father and brothers, before seizing Farida alongside the village’s women. What unfolded thereafter is a harrowing account of Farida's ordeal: enduring brutal beatings, sexual violence, and being displayed in slave markets where the jihadists treated women as commodities. Through these dark times, Farida discovered that her defiance and resilience made it increasingly challenging for her captors to maintain their cruel grip on her. She resisted with every fibre of her being—biting, kicking, and confronting her captors with accusations of hypocrisy. Then, one fortuitous day, she noticed her room’s door was left ajar. Seizing the moment, Farida, along with five other women, embarked on a daring escape through the harsh Syrian desert. This narrative is a testament to astounding bravery amidst unimaginable horror. As conflicts involving ISIS continue to rage across the Middle East, "The Girl Who Escaped ISIS" offers a compelling insight into this deeply disturbing global crisis.