“In 2014, we were raided by a large force of ISIS, and my brothers and I were arrested and taken to an unknown destination. I escaped miraculously, but my brothers are missing to this day. We do not know whether they have been executed or remain missing. This has had a profound impact on both me and my family,” Khairy El-Jabouri, 33-years-old, told UNODC.
On his path to overcome and rebuild his life, Khairy participated in the psychosocial support sessions provided within the UNODC project “Supporting victims of terrorism within the criminal justice framework, including psychological support” in Iraq, which was implemented in partnership with the Lebanese Association for Victims of Terrorism (AVT-L) and funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. “The programme served as a turning point that helped us to move forward from a place of vulnerability to a position where we could engage with our community, speak out and confront challenges more effectively,” he noted.
"We strongly urge organizations to provide support for our regions because families of missing persons do not have resources to resort to. These organizations should provide psychological support, safe spaces for children, and assistance with rebuilding homes that have been destroyed,” Khairy voiced his message to the international and national support networks who work to assist victims of terrorism.
This story, which represents the third in a five-part series, marks the
International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism which takes place on 21 August. This series is originally featured as part of the UNODC “Victims’ Voices, Silencing Terrorism” campaign, which was conducted in June 2023 through a combination of social media outreach and on-the-ground presence in Baghdad, Iraq.
