It is a question of conscience – and a decision about life and death: can one do business with the devil to save innocent people? Steve Maman (42), entrepreneur from Canada, says: Yes.
With his aid organization “Christian and Yazidi children of Iraq” he bought a total of 134 slaves from ISIS captivity, freed the children, some only six, seven years old, and young women from their martyrdom.
BamS tells the story behind the spectacular operation.
Steve Maman has been acting for years with noble oldtimers. His business led the Jewish entrepreneur to the Middle East, where he met the British priest Andrew White. “White is extremely well networked in Iraq . These connections and contacts helped me very much later, “says Maman to BamS.
When the ISIS terrorists overrun Mossul in the summer of 2014 and take thousands of prisoners, Steve Maman decides to do something. With friends he collects 125,000 dollars within a few days and establishes an aid organization. The aim: to make contact with the liaison officers in occupied Mosul via their own staff in Iraq.
“These contact persons ask different men in Mosul, under which conditions they would be freed their sex slaves,” says Maman. “When it comes to a business, the girls are driven to the city limits and handed over to our employees. We register them, check their identity, and bring them back to their families, most of whom live in the refugee camps in Northern Iraq. ”
According to Maman, the relief organization pays between 2000 and 3000 dollars for every sold slave.
Critics accuse Steve Maman of indirectly supporting ISIS. “The terrorists deserve billions of dollars with the sale of oil alone. My money does not matter at all, “replied Maman. “You just have to help this poor girl!”
And then he quoted a Jewish life rule from the Talmud: “He who saves a life saves the whole world. It is not about Jewish, Christian or Muslim life. It’s all about the life of every human being! “