For a few days, there was hope for thousands of Yezidi women and children: On Wednesday, the Supreme Spiritual Assembly of the Yazidis had published a historical statement. The message was interpreted as meaning that children born to the rape of Yazidi slaves in captivity in the terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS) would be welcomed into the religious community and welcomed.

The statement marked a break with the community's rules of faith: So far, neither a conversion to the Jesiadum is possible nor a marriage. Only children whose two parents are Yazidis are also considered Yazidis themselves. Children of IS fighters and their Yezidi prisoners are therefore not considered as Yazidis and can never become Yazidis.

And it will stay that way, the Supreme Council of the Yazidis said in a second statement on Saturday. "Regarding the decision to accept female survivors and their children, we did not mean the children who were born as a result of rape, but those who were kidnapped by the ISIS on August 3, 2014, as children of Yezidi parents. " (Read here a report on the fate of kidnapped Yazidi children who have returned traumatized from IS captivity)

The first statement stated that the Yazidi community accepted "the return of all IS survivors".

In August 2014, the IS 6000 abducted women and children

According to Murad Ismael, the director of the Yezidi human rights organization Yazda, the backlash is a consequence of strong criticism within the religious community. Yazidi parties, religious leaders and tribal representatives had seen in the decision a violation of the rules of faith. Add to this: "The extent of IS crimes makes it extremely difficult for many people to raise children who are in any connection with the IS," Ismael said on Twitter.

The latest statement by Yazidi Spiritual Council on children born from rape was found to be very controversial. Several Yazidi political parties and many people. As a result, the Council issued today another statement, revoking its last one. / 1 pic.twitter.com/50iOPxbMSM

- Murad Ismael (@murad_ismael) April 27, 2019

The Council failed to consult all relevant representatives of the community prior to publication. In addition, legal problems have not been clarified. After all, according to Iraqi law, all the children of a Muslim father would automatically be registered as Muslims - including children of IS terrorists.

For the affected women and their children, the decision is a "disaster," says Ismail, however, he accepted the decision of the highest religious authority.

After the conquest of the Yezidi settlement area around Sinjar in Northern Iraq, five years ago the IS had deported more than 6,000 women and children. Soon after, the leaders of the community declared that women would be able to return, but not their Sons and Daughters born in IS captivity.

Rapes were part of the genocide of the Yazidis

According to Yazda, nearly 3,000 women are still missing. The human rights activists suspect that many of them are reluctant to return to their homeland because they have to leave their children behind. Apparently, some Yazidis even remain with their tormentors, for fear of losing their children. Others live in the refugee camp al-Hol in Syria.

The decision of the Yezidi Council contributes to the aftermath of IS's terrorist acts long after the terrorist militia have been defeated militarily. The jihadists had calculated that the Yazidi community would violate children begotten by Muslims. The rape was part of their genocide of the Yazidis.

Yazda leader Ismael now hopes that third countries will receive the Yazidis and their children and offer them a future - in safety from the terror of the Islamists and the intolerance of their religious community.