The Islamic State released some 200 captives, most of whom were Yazidi women, children, elderly, and ill, to Kurdish troops at Kirkuk, Iraq on Wednesday, according to multiple reports. Among those released also included a few Christians. Reports say that officials confirmed the release. These individuals have been captive under the Islamic State since August of last year.
Ambulances were at the release site to provide medical assistance and health checkups to the captives.
However, there has been no confirmation as to the specific reason for the sudden release. Rassol Omar, a commander of the Peshmerga (which refers to the Iraqi military forces in Kurdistan) said that Arab tribal leaders were involved in the release, according to a CNN report.
The Islamic State also released some elderly and disabled 200 Yazidi individuals in January this year. The specific reason for the earlier release is also unknown. Some officials said it may be because the prisoners "were too much of a burden," according to the Associated Press.
Many of the Yazidis who were captured by the Islamic State are reported to have been raped, enslaved, and/or forced into marriage with the extremist militants. Thousands have had to flee from their homes in August when the Islamic State raided Sinjar, in which many of these individuals lived. At least 500 were killed, according tothe Wall Street Journal, and the Islamic State was recommended to the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide by the United Nations.
Most of the killing was due to the fact that the Islamic State compelled the individuals to either convert to Islam, flee, pay a tax, or die. Around the same time in August, thousands of Christians of Mosul were also forced to convert to Islam, flee, pay a tax, or die, and were hence driven out of the city.
The term 'Yazidi' refers to a religious group that is predominantly ethnically Kurdish, and follows a religion that combines elements of Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.
