The Higher Regional Court of Munich has delivered its verdict in the trial against Asia R.A. and Twana H.S., an Iraqi-Kurdish couple accused of being members of the so-called Islamic State (ISIL) and participating in the enslavement, torture, sexual abuse, and rape of two Yazidi girls. The Court found the defendants guilty of committing, between 2015 and 2017 In Mosul, Iraq, and Deir ez-Zor, Syria, genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against two Yazidi children. Twana H.S. was convicted of sexually abusing the children, while Asia R.A. was found guilty of aiding and abetting in the abuse.
Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, commented: “This landmark verdict in Germany’s tenth trial concerning ISIL crimes marks another significant step toward justice for the Yazidi community. It reflects Germany’s continued leadership in using universal jurisdiction to hold perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes accountable. While no verdict can erase the suffering of survivors, today’s judgment reinforces that these crimes will not go unpunished and that the pursuit of justice must continue.” A representative of Yazda, Riyadh Adi, Yazda Consultant Investigations and Case-Building, attended the hearing to keep the Yazidi community informed of the proceedings. Having supported this case for a long time, today he reaffirmed Yazda’s commitment to pursuing accountability and justice for the Yazidi community and all victims of ISIL.
Read the full press release by YAZDA.
Image: via the YAZDA website
