The Girl Who Escaped ISIS Summary

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Recommended: Universal Declaration of Human Rights article

“The Girl Who Escaped ISIS” by Farida Khalaf is a true story that follows a young Yazidi teenager after ISIS invades her village. She is separated from her family and forced into the slave market, being sold over and over again. Many of the events that take place in this book go against the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is “a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations”(UDHR) set in place to prevent the mistreatment of the human race. From slave trade, forced marriage, and prosecution of religion, Articles 4, 14, and 16 of the declaration are largely violated. In “The Girl Who Escaped ISIS”, Farida and the Yazidi girls of her village are taken to the slave market in Raqqa, having men “came into the hall at any time of the day or night to inspect the wares.” (Khalaf 74) This practice violates the 4th Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 4 states that “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” (UDHR 4) After being inspected over in …show more content…

As the ISIS militia is about to invade the village, they give the Yazidis a choice saying “No one on this earth may pay homage to Satan, or Melek Taus, as you call him. You must renounce this false belief and acknowledge Islam instead.” (Khalaf 49) This quote goes against Article 18 of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. Article 18 states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” (UDHR 18) After the Yazidis refuse to leave their faith, they are killed or sent into slavery. In slavery, some Yazidi girls were forced to carry out Islamic prayer rituals with their “owners”. (Khalaf 127) Along with forcing prayer among the girls, they were also forced to wear abayas and veils anytime they were in public, an Islamic practice of the

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