Following the opening speeches in the international ISIS forum organized by the Rojava Strategic Research Center (Navenda Rojava a Lekolinen Stratejik - NRLS), victims of ISIS massacres in Syria, Iraq and throughout the world took the stage to speak.

The forum is held under the title “ISIS: Dimensions, Challenges and Strategies for Confrontation” and hosts hundreds of intellectuals, journalists, politicians, lawyers and rights defenders from various countries. The opening speech was given by NRLS Coordination Member Ehmed Sino, who said the forum’s primary goals are the safety of the region, the fight against ISIS, exposing the military and political ties of ISIS and having ISIS members face trial for the war crimes they committed.

Sino said ISIS committed crimes against humanity in Syria, Iraq and various countries around the globe and added that the fight against ISIS must also be common. Sino said: “This forum is a great opportunity to clarify the duties that befall the international community in the discussion of ISIS members facing trial according to international law.”

Victims and witnesses of ISIS terrors took the stage and gave speeches after a screening about ISIS terrorist attacks in recent years. Witnesses and victims from Shengal, Kobane, Suruc, Deir ez-Zor, France and other places gave speeches and said an international court needs to be set up for the trial of ISIS members, stressing that the court in question should be set up where the crimes were committed.

YAZIDI WOMAN: THEY MUST FACE TRIAL AND BE SENTENCED

Young Yazidi woman Makbula Ezidiya spoke first in the “Accounts from ISIS victims and their relatives” seminar and talked about how she was abducted by ISIS gangs in the attack against Shengal on August 3, 2014, how her family was murdered and how she was sold in slave markets. Makbula Ezidiya said the greatest ISIS atrocity happened in Shengal and added that ISIS members must face trial in an international court and be sentenced.

YJS MEMBER SUAD: MINE WASN’T AN INDIVIDUAL VENGEANCE

Another Yazidi woman Suad Mirad Xelef spoke next and said she was sold in the slave markets in Raqqa after ISIS abducted her. Xelef said she returned to Shengal after the city was liberated by YPG/YPJ fighters, then joined the YJS to take her vengeance from ISIS gangs. Suad Mirad Xelef said, “Mine wasn’t an individual vengeance. I picked up weapons to avenge all Yazidi women. Then I fought the slavers in Raqqa where I was held as a slave. Our people were the worst sufferers of ISIS atrocities. We want these people to face trial the way international laws stipulate. This will stop new ISIS’s before they form.”

SURUC VETERAN ISIK: THE DUTY ALL OF HUMANITY FACES

A veteran of the Suruc massacre, Sibel Isik spoke next and said hundreds of young people from Turkey and Northern Kurdistan went to Suruc to cross into Kobane after the battle with the motto, “We defended together we will rebuild together”: “We were there for the reconstruction of Kobane. We wanted to help heal the children of Kobane. But we ended up covered in the blood of our friends who were dancing and laughing with us 5 minutes ago. We say these people must be punished, so ISIS or their mindset don’t come back from the dead. And for that, there needs to be an international court set up to give them a fair trial. This is the duty all of humanity faces.

“ISIS IS A THREAT FOR THE WHOLE WORLD”

Alice Daif, who was wounded in the ISIS massacre in Nice, France, said ISIS is a threat for the whole world and added that the persons responsible should not walk away with impunity. Jewad Kesasba, brother of Jordanian pilot Muaz Kesasba who was burned to death by ISIS gangs, joined the forum via video conference and said the family wants to appear as victims before the international court that will put ISIS gangs on trial.

“ISIS GANGS SHOULD BE TRIED IN SYRIA”

Alcin Ibrahim, who lost two siblings to ISIS attacks in Kobane on June 25, 2015, said ISIS gangs committed great atrocities in Kobane and that they will continue if they don’t face consequences. Alcin Ibrahim said: “We object to the trials of these persons being held elsewhere. ISIS members should definitely be tried here in Syria, even in Kobane.”

“WE ARE INVOLVED IN THIS CASE”

Nasir El Sebaa spoke in the name of the Shihetat clan whose thousands of members were killed by ISIS gangs in Deir ez-Zor in 2013 and said ISIS carried out great massacres in all of Syria: “I can say that the first mass killing of ISIS was against the Shihetat clan. We are involved in this case too, and we will follow up.”

Link to the conference livestream on Youtube: