Iraqi MP Vian Dakhil has made an emotional speech, calling on the country’s parliament and the international community to save the ancient Kurdish Yazidi minority from Islamic State militants.

She is the only Iraqi lawmaker from the religious minority.

Last weekend, Islamic State militants overran their villages and gave them an ultimatum: convert to Islam, pay a religious fine, leave their homes or face death.

Tens of thousands of Yazidi people fled for their lives.

The Islamic State, notorious for beheadings, regards the minority group as “devil worshippers.”

Dakhil broke down in tears as she pleaded: “Brothers, away from all political disputes, we want humanitarian solidarity. I speak here in the name of humanity. Save us! Save us! We are being slaughtered, we are being exterminated. An entire religion is being exterminated from the face of the Earth. Brothers, I appeal to you in the name of humanity. Save us!”

She appeared to faint and was assisted by other members of parliament. Her speech was applauded by some lawmakers and she was thanked by the speaker.

Thousands of people from the Yazidi community, including up to 25,000 children, were stranded in the Sinjar mountains with no belongings.

They were thought to be at real risk of dying from hunger and dehydration.

The UN children’s agency said families who fled were in immediate need of urgent assistance.