Title: The Role of The Islamic State Terrorist Organization in Human Trafficking THE YAZIDI IN IRAQ
Author: Lisa Marie Holz
Place of publication:
Publisher:
Release date:May 2017

The study of terrorist groups and the role they play in human trafficking is a relatively recent addition to the literature. Despite growing anecdotal evidence of such practices by groups including Al Qaida, Boko Haram, and more recently, the Islamic State (I.S) group, empirical research by scholars is extremely limited. Accordingly, this research paper seeks to add to the knowledge that is currently available on the question of: ‘what role the Islamic State terrorist group has played in human trafficking, and how has it been portrayed by the media?’ An additional area of examination will also focus on how increasing ‘celebritization’ of human trafficking can lead to misdirected policies. This study will focus specifically on the Yazidi minority population of Nineveh Province located in the North West of Iraq during 2014. Findings from this paper can be employed to inform governments and non-government organizations alike as to media and celebrity bias in the coverage of such events so that resources might be better allocated to identify hidden and overlooked victims, and better assist survivors. Furthermore, the findings will support what little previous scholarly literature there is already available.[1]