Sabaya is a 2021 documentary film directed by Hogir Hirori, a Kurdish-Swedish filmmaker, and produced by Antonio Russo Merenda. The film follows Mahmud and Ziyad, two Yazidi men who escaped from ISIS captivity and turned activists, as they try to rescue Yazidi women and girls who are being held as sex slaves by ISIS militants in Al-Hol camp, the largest and most dangerous refugee camp in Syria.
The film shows how Mahmud, Ziyad and their team operate in secrecy and with limited resources, as they risk their lives to gather information about the whereabouts of the abducted women and girls. They use their mobile phones to contact the captives and gather vital information that can help them plan a rescue mission. They also reach out to smugglers, who help them sneak into the camp undetected, as the camp is heavily guarded by ISIS militants.
Once inside the camp, the team faces many challenges, including the risk of being discovered by ISIS, as well as the hostile environment created by the refugees themselves, who suspect the team's motives and refuse to cooperate. The film portrays the emotional toll that such a mission takes on the rescuers, as they witness the suffering of the women and girls and struggle to maintain their own sanity in the face of such cruelty.
Sabaya, which means "captives" in Arabic, shines a light on the plight of the Yazidi people, who have been persecuted by ISIS since 2014. The film also highlights the resilience and courage of the women and girls who are survivors of sexual slavery, as well as the bravery of the men who risk their lives to save them. It is a powerful and poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of fighting for justice and freedom.