₦airaland Forum

Teenage girls abducted by ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria are being sold in slave markets "for as little as a pack of cigarettes," the UN envoy on sexual violence said on Monday.

Zainab Bangura visited Iraq and Syria in April, and has since been working on an action plan to address the horrific sexual violence being waged by ISIS fighters.

"This is a war that is being fought on the bodies of women," Bangura told AFP in an interview.

The UN envoy spoke to women and girls who had escaped from captivity in ISIS-controlled areas, met with local religious and political leaders and visited refugees in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.

Jihadists continue to run slave markets for girls abducted during fresh offensives, but there are no figures on the numbers enslaved by the fighters.

"They kidnap and abduct women when they take areas so they have, I don't want to call it a fresh supply but they have new girls," she said.

Girls are sold for "as little as a pack of cigarettes" or for several hundred or thousand dollars, she said.

Bangura described the ordeal of several teenage girls, many of whom were part of the Yazidi minority targeted by the jihadists.

"Some were taken, locked up in a room, over 100 of them in a small house stripped naked and washed."

They were then made to stand in front of a group of men who decided "what you are worth."

Bangura gave the account of a 15-year-old girl who was sold to an ISIS leader, a sheikh aged in his 50s, who showed her a gun and a stick and asked her "tell me what you want".

"She said 'the gun' and he replied: 'I didn't buy you so that you could kill yourself'" before raping her, Bangura said.

Foreign fighters get wives

Abducting girls has become a key part of the ISIS strategy to recruit foreign fighters who have been traveling to Iraq and Syria in record numbers over the past 18 months.

"This is how they attract young men, we have women waiting for you, virgins that you can marry," Bangura said. "The foreign fighters are the backbone of the fighting."

A recent UN report said close to 25 000 foreign fighters from over 100 countries were involved in conflicts worldwide, with the largest influx by far into Syria and Iraq.

The envoy likened the jihadists' abuse of women and girls to "medieval" practices and said ISIS wants "to build a society that reflects the 13th century."

Despite the monstrous violence, communities like the Yazidis are welcoming the girls back and offering them support to pick up the pieces of their broken lives, said Bangura.

She praised Yazidi religious leader Baba Sheikh for publicly declaring that the girls need understanding, but noted that no such pronouncements had come from the Turkmen leaders.

Bangura returned from a tour of European capitals to discuss the plight of women and girls under IS and hopes to address the Security Council soon to discuss what can be done.

A UN technical team is due to travel to the region soon to work out details of the plan to help victims of ISIS sexual violence.

Beijing - Rules making it easier to file lawsuits in China have led to a new concern over frivolous claims, such as one in which a man says actress Zhao Wei stared at him too intensely through his TV set.

The regulations making it more difficult for courts to reject lawsuits took effect on May 1, leading to an increase in cases nationwide last month of 29% compared with same period last year, to just over 1 million cases, according to the Supreme People's Court.

The registration system requires courts to accept legitimate lawsuits when they are filed or clearly state the reasons for rejecting them, and citizens have the right to appeal the decisions.

"Previously, it was difficult for administrative cases, such as people suing governments, to be accepted," said Li Heping, a Beijing lawyer.

In announcing the registration system, the official Xinhua News Agency said: "Authorities are determined to put an end to obstructive behaviour by courts and officials meddling in cases."

Stare ‘caused spiritual damage’

The change has led to Shanghai Pudong New District Court receiving a case against Zhao, the court's litigation service hotline confirmed. The court official, who declined to identify himself, refused to say whether the court had accepted the case.

Zhao is one of China's biggest and richest movie stars, and starred in director John Woo's Red Cliff.

Reports say the lawsuit filed by a Shanghai man involves the prime-time TV show Tiger Mom which debuted in May and centres on a couple's differing approach to raising their daughter.

Zhao plays the big-eyed mother who relentlessly pushes her daughter's development, while the father wants his child to have more freedom.

The Legal Daily said the plaintiff was alleging Zhao's stare caused him "spiritual damage".

Gan Wen, deputy head of a case-filing chamber under the Supreme Court, said at a news conference on Tuesday that the Zhao case was an example of citizens abusing their right to file lawsuits.

"It's not necessary to waste our judicial resources on cases like these," Gan said.

Kolade354:
Falcao to chelsea is a done deal.....Mourinho will Boss Wenger if they play 1000th time...........

you be God?

Scholes007:
lets say most of what you mentioned here are the problems facing us as a nation, Then my question is how do the new administration intend to tackle them & when will it start to tackle them...the administration tends to be disorganised despite having over two months as free months for preparations

They have their plan on how to tackle it and this is just 5days since they took over. Is it possible to fix all these in 5days?

doublewisdom:
Why the attack on barcanista?
All because he criticized the old thief of Daura?
Abeg,free the guy !
That Daura President had better hit the ground running!

That you are even RULED by a Duara dullard is pathetic for your case...SMH for you

Elueme:
You are simply a simpleton to think you can bully people from free expression. If Buhari had been a private citizen, his actions or inactions won't be my business but since he campaigned to be my no.1 public official and made campaign promises then the onus lies on him to act as promised. If he can't take the heat, he still has the option of taking the honourable path and resign. I am sure you were not tired when GEJ was being taking to the cleaners on issues more petty than this. You are even more hopeless to say you are Igbo. What does tribe has to do with national discuss bigot?

I will just ignore you and pretend you didn't just quote me.

Chestar5:
ok, august ll come. Let see

Aiit then

kelechiMarie:
i'm not BIASED. I do wish for someone better;if that person can be found. My grouse is not really with the man himself but his supporters. Once you say anything contrary to their opinion,you're tagged a satanoid or something in that vein. They did even worse to the former president. I'm not in support of people creating silly hate threads but tagging every thread that criticizes Pmb as hate campaign is simply silly!

Forget the supporters and focus on the man. When it's time to criticise, you are free to do so but doing that now is too early and a sign that you are opposed to the man at the helm. For 6yrs I barely criticise GEJ until he came back for re-election. I sat down, analysed his 6yr rule and came to a decision. It was so easy to see he hadn't performed. Now is not the time to hurl your criticisms but to sit and watch how things unfolds. Thanks

Chestar5:
oh, well. We don't need peepz lyk u really:/

lol..i already like your person. Am an arsenal fan, can't wait to screw you guys very soon

kelechiMarie:
Sorry o!we'll kindly refrain from uttering any words that might hurt our dear president's emotions.
Any criticism(constructive or not)levelled against pmb is tagged "hate campaign" Some of you need to grow up. I nuh fit shout

Do you think IT'S time for your criticisms? Do you have a problem with the man @d helm? Do you wish it was someone else @the helm? These qtns should make you decide if you are baised or not

3. As the watch in question was acquired before her husband became president, it is obvious that she didn't acquire it with our money. Have you also considered that the watch could have been a gift from someone to her?
May God bless you brother. A line some never cared to think along. There are possiblities that was an expensive birthday gift or some other sort of gifts. Some people get cars, gold watches, houses on birthdays so what if this was a gift? Nevertheless, she even got this before she assumed the 1st lady's office so what is the fuss about the wristwatch?

cyberguy72:
STFU!

Deal with your fustration bro! Buhari didn't bring it unpon you. If there is anybody to pour your fustration then you know where to go. Calm Down and Believe cos I know things will get better. You can't keep this fustration for 4yrs cos it's not good for your health

Scholes007:
pls if I may ask what are the damages and how do he tackled/solve it?

1. Nigerians cannot afford to fuel their gen sets even tho this commodity is explored from their ground. 2. The dollar/naira is ridiculously high leading to inflation. 3. We barely experience 3hrs of power after billions have been plunged into the sector. 4. NNPC over the last few years can't account for missing funds of the country which should go a long way to improve our lives. 5. Insecurity in Nigeria now calls for concern. 6. Corruption wasn't tackled headon leading to more and bold stealing. I. I could go on and on but I rest ma case...all I want is a better Nigeria for you and me. Buhari is just 5days into his administration and we already want him to fix all these problems? I guess he should still be receiving reports from the various ministries on past works so he needs TIME. Abi you sef fit do magic under 5days if na you dey for there?

BrokenTV:
You are even worst than those you criticize. You want to quench the fire but you are igniting it. I don't see anything i what Buhari opposition are doing but constructive criticism.

Buhari is at the helm of affairs, whoever does not like it should deal with it for the rest of the nxt 4yrs. His comments weren't constructible enof and I wanted to call him to order. Am sorry if I sounded insultive but my brothers let us help the present govt and see how obvious change can get to us. This man is not even lasted 2weeks in office and we already want him to repair a damage of 16yrs? Bro, you sef reason am nah...sorry once more if I sounded insultive.

xcolanto:
Who is Buhari? The certificate-less, brainless old dura cattle rearer from a military background ??

Yeah! Thought so....
@op your high on sawdust! Don't let me abuse you.

Where was you say 2 months ago? Guess ur new to the Internet.
Seems the dura herdsman cannot take an inch of what him and his saboteurs hired jobless youths to rain falsehood, abuses, deceit, lies and propaganda against anything GEJ or those that support him.
Waiting for him to send security agents against those that see him as brainless and a massive fraud against the Nigerian people then we shall know for sure GEJ was a humble man.

Bunch of stupid ass double standard goats coming here talking about insults against a sick man! Thunder go visit una one by one! Bloody ignorant lots

You are so empty ma ears hurt from the sounds you make

barcanista:
OP I don't know what you are talking about. I am yet to see any "hate" campaign agaist President Buhari. Do you consider the call for him to declare his asset "HATe" Campaign? Do you consider the discovery of the value of his wife's wrist watch "Hate" campaign? What exactly is the hate campaign? Anyway, as long I am I concerned, I'm yet to see any.

Personally, I will never carryout hate campaign against anybody BUT it doesn't mean I won't analyse, criticise or remind the government. If you call that "hate" campaign then i don't think you or Alhaji Buhari deserve an apology!

Keep your selfish interest aside and embrace forwardness.

p1jiobi:
Buhari hasn't seen nothing yet. D old dunce thinks we are fools. His wife is wearing wrist watch of 10million wh millions of Nigeians are dying. Satan will punish that old foooooool.

Did you shop the wristwatch with her? Have you ever thought about expensive gifts? Why don't you do an all-round thinking my broda? You better start thinking of making a life for yourslf than waiting for the govt to give you a life, no offence tho.

emonye6:
I WOULD POO IN ma pants if dis trash makes fp

I am not a fp freak like you bro. I have passed ma message to you and that is ok by me. Dem dey give award for fp? That is what I am talking about..instead of making a 'sensible' statement just look at your kinda mentality I pity you bro..wake up! I don't give a hoot about frontpage!

Ever since PMB took charge of affairs at the helm, I have noticed a kind of "hate campaign" against him on NL by some youths. I wonder what our youths have turned into: the ongoing debate now is the "cost" of the 1st lady's wristwatch to the inauguration ceremony. For crying out loud, why do we rest so much of useless issues instead of thinking positively and trying to find a way to move the nation forward? Some specific moniker here are anti-Buhari and I just can't understand why. These people are the kind of people that prefer to stay in darkness no matter what as long as their personal interest is intact. You are upset because a man from your region that was almost plunging the nation into "oblivion" through his 'fragile' rule was kicked out of office? I am from the Eastern part of the country so before you think I have geological relation with the new president you better think twice. I am already tired of reading stuffs of buhari this buhari that. If we feel so much jobless then we can use the time spent in typing or creating 'hate' threads and comments against PMB to pray to GOD. Nigerian youths please look at your foreign counterparts and learn how to be constructive and make critical statements voids of personal interests. Nigeria is not a personal property to any particular region. PMB has 4yrs to show us what he can do and after that if we aren't satisfied then we can vote him out but not until he has completed his term. Let's us all embrace the interest of the nation as one. Let us void ourselves of "IM" and hope this country gets it right for once!

Chestar5:
hope u re not a chelsea fan, cos dats not a blues spirit.... Chelsea all the way:*

I don't drink dry gin

Chelsea fit stand Arsenal so? Me don't think so cos the fury of Arsenal is hot now!

You are an otuekan

Abeg who fit borrow me BlackBerry charger?

Hmmmm

As long as greed, poverty remains in the land then we will always be in the shadows of the western world. The margin is just too wide to fill. We are the architects of our own miseries and the whites just capitalize on our gullible nature to extort and make a ridicle of us. The African leaders have failed us. There are no more the likes of Mandela who stood for value of the African people. All we have now mostly are money-laundering leaders who just can't stop at aything but to keep on embarrassing Africans!