A Montreal businessman who started an organisation to rescue Yazidis and Christians held captive by Daesh is threatening to sue a Yazidi group that was critical of his project.

According to Vice News, a lawyer for Steve Maman, who founded the Liberation of Christian and Yazidi Children of Iraq (CYCI), sent the group a letter demanding they "refrain from making any further mention or reference whatsoever pertaining to CYCI or to Steve Maman".

Mr Maman, who was dubbed the "Jewish Schindler", claimed to have rescued 128 women and children. However, the Yazidis demanded he provide proof of the rescues and criticised his practice of negotiating for the captives' release, which, they argued, could result in cash being channelled to Daesh.

Mr Maman did not respond to the JC's repeated requests for a comment.

On Sunday, Mr Maman posted a response on his Facebook page, saying: "The allegations made are astonishing considering all the good will seen by CYCI, its volunteers and its avid supporters." He said it would be reckless to provide proof of his operations because such evidence would jeopardise the rescue attempts.