ARTIST PROFILE: Farida Khalaf

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Farida Abbas Khalaf is one of more than 6500 Yazidi survivors of ISIS enslavement and genocide. She was born in Kocho,-Sinjar, Northern Iraq. She was a high school student when ISIS attacked her village, killing men and taking women and children hostages. Farida lost her father and her older brother. She was taken then into captivity with her mother and her other brother. Farida was held in captivity for four months where was subjected to unimaginable suffering including physical and mental abuse. Since her escape, Farida has been an effective part of Yazda global advocacy campaign to bring ISIS militants to justice, raise awareness and bring international attention to the Genocide. 

 

Ms. Khalaf is the author of The Girl Who Beat ISIS (2016), a book published in over 14 countries, and in her documentary film, “With Words Against the IS (2016),” Ms. Khalaf bravely relives her story. Ms. Khalaf is the winner of the 2017 Marsh Award for peacemaking and peacekeeping and the 2017 LiberPress Award.