Among thousands fleeing the crumbling dream of an Islamic State group “caliphate” in eastern Syria are alleged jihadists but also survivors of some of their worst atrocities.

A beautician arranges products for sale at an aestethic clinic in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on October 30, 2018.For three years, Mosul’s women were covered in black from head to toe and its men had to keep their beards long. Salons were shut, and plastic surgery considered a crime.

Iraqi youth and elders browse a book display at a festival titled “I am Iraqi.. I read” at a park in Mossul in the first event of its kind after the city was retaken from IS militants (source: Rudaw English; Twitter)

Music is back in Mosul, as are books and paintings. With Islamic State gone, locals are enjoying their newfound freedom and embracing culture. Will it last? Judit Neurink reports from Mosul

Kurdish Peshmerga female fighters march during combat skills training before being deployed to fight the Islamic State at their military camp in Sulaimaniya, northern Iraq September 18, 2014. © Reuters/Ahmed Jadallah

Shiwa left her home country Iran to fight against “Islamic State” because she believes their ideology goes totally against women’s rights. She feels it’s her duty to try to stop them. Listen to her story here!

© Reuters/Rasheed

“What ISIS did to you, will not happen again,” said the Yazidi Patriarch to the women and children victims of ISIS taken to Germany to get help. Read more about their stories and other news about women here.