The Wednesday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories
Highlights from the news file for Wednesday, Feb. 22
———
YAZIDIS WELCOME CANADIAN PROMISE OF HAVEN: Yazidis in Iraq are hailing Canada’s offer of a safe haven from ISIL persecution. Yazidi survivors are considered among the most vulnerable people in Iraq, which is why Canada and other countries are offering to take them in. Women and girls have endured horrific abuse and persecution at the hands of Islamic State fighters. Twenty-three-year-old Saud Khalid, who was kidnapped in August of 2014 and sold as a sex slave three times before escaping, was recently interviewed by UN officials about going to Canada and she’s hoping she and her young son will be among the 1,200 Yazidis and other ISIL survivors accepted by the Liberal government. The government’s plan has also been welcomed by Dr. Luma Alhanabadi, who runs Dohuk Girls and Women Treatment and Support Centre, which is partly funded by Canada. Initially opposed to resettlement for fear survivors would face significant barriers abroad, Alhanabadi says she now supports the idea and recently submitted applications for 15 survivors to go to Canada.
———