A Yazidi teen who escaped ISIS sex slavery and sought refuge in Canada is now accusing the man who helped her escape of rape.
The 19-year-old claims she was sexually assaulted by Hadji Hesso, the executive director of the Yazidi Association of Manitoba, a group praised for helping Yazidi refugees resettle in Canada.
In 2014, the Yazidi community in northern Iraq faced genocide at the hands of ISIS, which killed thousands and enslaved women and girls.
In 2017, Canada responded by resettling 1,200 Yazidi women, children and their families, offering them a chance to rebuild their lives after enduring unimaginable trauma. Among those resettled was the then-12-year-old alleged victim and her family, who arrived in Winnipeg seeking safety, Global News reported.
The Yazidi Association of Manitoba, led by Hesso, played a significant role in aiding the resettlement process. The alleged victim claims that over the summer of 2024, Hesso attempted to sexually assault her in a secluded room at a community facility.
Despite her attempts to fend him off, she alleges he persisted and later sent explicit messages. She reported the incident to her school, prompting police involvement. Hesso has been arrested multiple times since, not only on sexual assault charges but also for allegedly violating bail conditions and threatening the alleged victim.
The latest allegations include an encounter near her home, where she and her sister were reportedly threatened. Hesso has denied the allegations, and his lawyer has not commented on the case.
The charges against Hesso have led to his removal from the board of the Ethnocultural Council of Manitoba, though he remains in his position within the Yazidi Association of Manitoba.
His organization, however, has faced scrutiny after being dissolved by the Manitoba government for failing to file required reports.
The alleged victim has received support from members of the Yazidi community but reportedly remains fearful for her safety, as Hesso has been released on bail twice before.
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