ISIS Burns 19 Yazidi Women Alive in Metal Cages

JERUSALEM, Israel – Nineteen Yazidi women who refused to become sex slaves of their ISIS captors were caged and burned alive in Mosul, Iraq, late last week before hundreds of spectators that included their husbands.

"They were punished for refusing to have sex with ISIS militants, local media activist Abdullah al-Malla told ARA News Agency.

The women, along with thousands of others, were kidnapped in August 2014 when ISIS took control of Sinjar in northwestern Iraq. Many of the women were sold as sex slaves.

The Kurdistan regional government says ISIS is holding at least 1,800 women captive in Iraq and Syria, while the U.N. estimates the Islamic State is holding some 3,500 Yazidi women captive.

Last year, ISIS caged and burned alive Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, a 26-year-old Jordanian pilot, posting the execution on line as it had done of beheadings. The Jordanian government made good on its pledge to execute two imprisoned ISIS terrorists.