Modern Day Schindler Saves Christian and Yazidi Female Sex Slaves from ISIS

By Precy Dumlao
ISIS Terror
The Assyrian Christian community has faced heavy persecution from ISIS in recent months, including the kidnapping of 230 believers in Qaryatain, Syria in August. Reuters

Back in WWII, Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist, spy, and a member of the Nazi party, was once credited with saving the lives of more than a thousand Jews from the deathly concentration camps by employing them in his factories.

Now with the rise of ISIS and the increasing reports of sex slavery among Yazidis and Christian women in war-torn Syria and Iraq, media reports are picking up the story of a modern-day Jewish Schindler, who has decided to pay it forward by doing his part in saving female prisoners from ISIS slave handlers.

The story of Steve Maman,  a Canadian Jewish businessman who took it upon himself to rescue Christian and Yazidi girls from ISIS is being disseminated by the Accidental Talmudist through social media posts.

When Maman heard that Iraqi jihadists started forcing girls into sex slavery, he decided to do something and set up a nonprofit foundation called the Liberation of Christian and Yazidi Children of Iraq (CYCI). More information on CYCI can be found at www.liberationiraq.com.

The report says that Maman was motivated by the Jews' own experience during the Holocaust.

"We waited for six years for people to come and help us," he said. He does not want anyone to go through what his people did.

According to the report, the foundation has raised over $500,000, mostly from Moroccan Jews. The rescue operations work by placing negotiators inside ISIS areas. The negotiators then redeem the captives for $2000 to $4000 each.

Maman describes how he was able to partner with key people to help them rescue the women:  "There are millions of inhabitants in Mosul, and they're not all ISIS, so we, within those millions of people, have found teams that were willing to work with us in order to get those girls out."

Nevertheless, Maman and his efforts are not immune from criticism. Recently the Times of Israel reported that a group of Yazidi leaders have demanded the Canadian businessman to prove that he has indeed rescued Christian and Yazidi women and children from ISIS. To date, the foundation claims it has rescued 128 individuals.

Others have also said that Maman is enabling ISIS to continue to kidnap girls by rewarding them for their behavior through cash payouts to the kidnappers.

Maman thinks differently. He says, "ISIS is worth today $4 billion. Do you think that my little two or three thousand dollars per child is going to help the power and might of ISIS? You'd have to tell the 1,200 survivors saved by Oskar Schindler and their 15,000 descendants, that they were liberated unlawfully because Oskar Schindler gave money to the Nazis."

  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • Discipleship and Evangelism: Walking the Path of the Great Commission

    Like an ever-flowing spring, the gospel refreshes dry, parched lands and needs our unwavering passion and steadfast faith to transform lives and bring renewal. The "flame in our hearts" calls Christians to keep their faith and love for the Lord ablaze, representing the work and power of the Holy Spirit, driving us to proclaim God's glory boldly.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo