The U.N. says that as many as 200,000 Iraqis from the minority Yazidi community have been forced to flee.
As many as 200,000 Iraqis from the minority Yazidi community have been forced to flee their homes after armed militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) ordered them to leave their homes — or be killed, according to the U.N.
Yazidis are a Kurdish community whose ancient religion pulls from many traditions. ISIS considers them to be devil worshippers.
AP Photo via AP video
ISIS militants attacked Yazidi in the town of Sinjar and Zunmar in Ninewa province on Sunday, overrunning Kurdish forces that have been fighting to protect the area from ISIS since the radical group ousted the Iraqi military from the region in June.
Iraqis from the Yazidi community arrive in Irbil in northern Iraq Aug. 3.
AP Photo via AP video
After gaining control, ISIS militants gave the Yazidi the same ultimatum they gave to the Christians of Mosul in July: convert, pay a security tax, leave, or die.
Displaced Yazidi families take refuge ub Dohuk province on Aug. 4,
Stringer/Iraq / Reuters
At least 40,000 Yazidi then fled north to the Kurdish region of Iraq. Many also fled to the mountains surrounding Sinjar.
Stringer/Iraq / Reuters
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