A German court on Monday handed down lengthy prison sentences to an Iraqi couple linked to the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group for the enslavement and abuse of two Yazidi girls. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office charged the couple with war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

The defendants, identified as Twana H.S. and Asia R.A. in line with German privacy laws, were accused of holding the girls captive for years, subjecting them to forced labor, physical and psychological abuse, and torture. They also allegedly sexually abused the minors and handed them over to other IS members.

The man was sentenced to life imprisonment, while his former partner received a juvenile sentence of nine and a half years. The couple had been living in Germany and were arrested in the southern state of Bavaria in April 2023.

The Munich court found the pair guilty of heinous crimes against the Yazidi community, which has been a target of IS genocide. The prosecution presented evidence of systematic violence and the couple's active role in the terrorist group's operations.

This landmark verdict is seen as a significant step in holding IS members accountable for atrocities. Yazidi activists welcomed the decision but called for continued efforts to bring other perpetrators to justice. The defense indicated plans to appeal the sentence.

Source: www.dw.com