In the heart of the pitch darkness that engulfed Sinjar on August 3, 2014, the story of Khalaf Mato emerges as a ray of hope and a living testimony to the tragedy and heroism experienced by the Yazidis.
Khalaf, then 29 years old, tells us a story never told before. In the orchards of the Sumud complex near Zummar, 24 Yazidi families were working hard, unaware that their lives would be turned upside down within hours.
“We were living our normal lives,” says Khalaf, his voice trembling with memories. “Then came the warning.”
In a scene resembling a movie, Khalaf describes how an Arab neighbor transformed from a reassuring figure to a bearer of imminent danger. Suddenly, cars bearing black flags appeared, announcing the arrival of ISIS.
“We knew our fate was in great danger,” Khalaf continues. “We planned to escape, but it was almost suicidal.”
In a crucial moment, hope came in the form of three boats from Khanke. Here, the story turns into a real action scene.
“We boarded the boats amidst gunfire. The scene was chaotic,” Khalaf describes. “But what I’ll never forget is Sarah Mahmoud, that brave girl who grabbed the machine gun and returned fire at ISIS.”
After a miraculous escape, the families found refuge in Khanke, where locals opened their hearts and homes to them.
Today, a decade later, Khalaf stands tall, preparing to return to Sinjar. “We’ve been through 10 difficult years,” he says with eyes gleaming with determination. “But we persevered, we learned, and we’ll return stronger.”
Khalaf’s story is not just a narrative of events. It’s a human epic telling the resilience of an entire people. In every word he says, we hear the echo of thousands of Yazidi voices that refused to surrender.
On the tenth anniversary of the genocide, Khalaf’s story stands as a witness to the atrocity of what happened, and to the strength of the human spirit in the face of injustice. It reminds us that behind every number and statistic, there’s a human story, a dream, and a hope that never dies.
This story is not an end, but a beginning. The beginning of a new chapter written by the Yazidis themselves, is a chapter of return, rebuilding, and hope. And at the heart of this chapter, the voice of Khalaf and thousands of others will continue to echo: “We persevered, and we will return stronger.”
By Sabah Samir