Full Breakdown
German Court Convicts Former ISIS Couple for Enslaving Yazidi Girls
7/13/2026, 9:27:39 PM
Conviction Details
A Bavarian court sentenced former Iraqi couple Twana H.S. and Asia R.A. to life imprisonment and nine-and-a-half years, respectively, for war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, and the sexual abuse of two Yazidi girls. The victims, aged five and twelve when purchased as slaves in Iraq, were subjected to forced labor, torture, and sexual exploitation before being handed to other IS members. The male defendant was found to have directly abused the children, while the female defendant was convicted of aiding and abetting the offenses. The ruling marks Germany’s first conviction for forced religious conversion, as the girls were compelled to abandon Yazidism for Islam.
Context of ISIS-Driven Genocide
The crimes occurred under the “Islamic State” (IS) group, which international investigations have documented as perpetrating genocide against the Yazidi population in Syria and Iraq. The couple’s actions formed part of a broader pattern of slave-taking and systematic violence that IS employed to eradicate Yazidi cultural and religious identity.
Official Reactions
- “The monstrous violence is so far removed from any sense of humanity that it seems unreal.” — Representative of the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office
- “Monday’s ruling was the first conviction in Germany for forced religious conversion — in this case, forcing the girls from Yazidism to Islam.” — Judge Philipp Stoll
Victims’ Voices and Public Impact
One of the formerly enslaved girls testified in court, breaking down in tears as the verdict was read. She recounted, “even dogs were held in higher regard than we were.” The emotional testimony underscored the severity of the abuse and prompted public outcry over the lingering trauma endured by Yazidi survivors of IS atrocities.
