Nadia’s Initiative and Counsel Amal Clooney commend German conviction of ISIS member

Washington, D.C. (October 26, 2021)

Yesterday, a German court convicted ISIS member Jennifer W. for the enslavement and abuse of a Yazidi woman and her five-year-old daughter that resulted in the young girl’s death. With its fifth conviction of an ISIS member for crimes against humanity committed against Yazidis, Germany strongly demonstrated its commitment to holding perpetrators accountable for the Yazidi Genocide and delivering long-awaited justice for the Yazidi community. 

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Yazidi activist, Nadia Murad, stated: “No ruling will ever undo the profound pain and loss the Yazidi community has endured, but it is critical that courts of law around the world hold ISIS accountable for crimes against humanity. Germany’s conviction is very important to me because I know the woman at the center of this case and have witnessed the inconsolable pain she lives with, having seen the brutal death of her daughter. It is vital to hold all perpetrators of genocide and sexual violence accountable, regardless of nationality.”

Counsel Amal Clooney, who represented the Yazidi survivor, added, “This judgment constitutes the fifth conviction of an ISIS member in a German court for crimes against humanity committed against Yazidi victims. It is a significant milestone for my client, a remarkably brave woman who lost her child in brutal conditions. And it is a victory for everyone who believes in justice. I am grateful to the German prosecutors for bringing this case and I hope that we will see a more concerted global effort to bring ISIS to justice.”

Germany’s prosecution of these individuals under universal jurisdiction for international crimes committed in Iraq and Syria sets an important precedent for other nations. The German case is also notable for including the Yazidi survivor in its proceedings. Seeing justice served is vital to the community’s healing. Every Yazidi deserves their day in court. Other countries, including in Europe and North America, should work to create pathways to prosecute nationals who participated in genocide and acknowledge the Yazidi community’s experience through legal redress.