ISIL frees nearly 200 Yazidis

Release of elderly and sick captives of Kirkuk’s frontlines leaves 4,000 of Iraq’s minority group at ISIL’s mercy.

ISIL fighters in Iraq have released around 200 captives from the minority Yazidi community.

They were transported from Nineveh province to Kurdish-held territory.

It is not as yet clear why they were released, but many are elderly people. Almost 4,000 Yazidis – almost half of whom are women – are still believed to be still held by ISIL. They are viewed as “spoils of war” – to be used, bought and sold.

Al Jazeera’s Jane Arraf reports from the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Source: Al Jazeera