The Independent newspaper reported that 216 people, including two Christians and elderly and infirm Yazidis were freed on 8th April. The prisoners had been held captive since last summer when forces invaded their villages in north-west Iraq.
Those released were handed to Kurdish forces near Kirkuk. It was reported some were too disoriented to speak.
One elderly woman said she had remained behind while her children fled so not to slow them down when IS entered Sinjar last August.
IS has not said why they chose to release hostages, including Yazidis whom it considers devil worshippers. The group recently freed 200 people it was holding under similar circumstances.
