UNITAD Welcomes German Court Conviction of ISIL Female Member for Aiding and Abetting Genocide Against Yazidis

Baghdad, 26 June 2023– Special Adviser and Head of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD) Mr. Christian Ritscher welcomed today the German Higher Regional Court of Koblenz conviction of ISIL female member Nadine K. for committing international crimes, particularly Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes against a young Yazidi woman in Iraq.

“This conviction is an example of what meaningful justice means to survivor communities of ISIL heinous international crimes. The key witness in this case, travelled from Iraq to Germany to confront her perpetrator in court. She participated as a co-plaintiff in the proceedings and testified before court over 6 days. This is the kind of justice victim communities are questing, and the kind of justice UNITAD is designed to seek, in Iraq as well as throughout the world.”

UNITAD provided support to German prosecution authorities by identifying and interviewing the key witness (N.) the Yazidi woman who was held as a slave for 3 years by the ISIL couple, Nadine K. and her husband.

Nadine K., a German national who joined ISIL with her husband in late 2014, was sentenced to nine years and three months in prison, for membership in a terrorist organization abroad, in one case, in addition to another case on international crimes. The court found her guilty of aiding and abetting genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for the enslavement and abuse of a young Yazidi woman in support of ISIL’s brutal campaign to eradicate the Yazidi religious minority. In 2016, Nadine K.'s husband received the 21 years old Yazidi woman as a "gift". The woman was raped several times and was forced to do the housekeeping. The ISIL couple treated her as a private property. 

“The pursuit of justice is a long, steadfast journey that is bound to yield fruit. This conviction brought solace and comfort to the victims and attests that ISIL perpetrators shall find no safe haven. I commend the courage and the resilience of the witness, and the valiant efforts of the German persecutors in this case,” said Special Advisor Ritscher. He added that “ISIL crimes in Iraq constitute some of the most gruesome acts we have seen in recent history. Individuals responsible for such acts must be identified and ultimately tried and convicted for their crimes. UNITAD will continue to exert every possible effort to support the prosecution of ISIL criminals and ensure that they are held accountable for their heinous international crimes.”

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For more information please contact Public Information Officer (Maha Thaher) for the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL, E-mail: UNITAD-PIO@un.org