A Swedish court has convicted Lina Ishaq of genocide and war crimes against the Yazidi people, sentencing her to 12 years in prison for enslaving Yazidi women and children as part of the Islamic State, a first for Sweden in relation to IS crimes.
Swedish Woman Sentenced for Genocide Against Yazidis in Historic Case
Swedish Woman Sentenced for Genocide Against Yazidis in Historic Case
Lina Ishaq receives a 12-year prison term for her role in Islamic State's war crimes, marking a significant step in the judicial pursuit of justice for the Yazidi community.
A Swedish court has sentenced a 52-year-old woman, Lina Ishaq, to 12 years in prison for her involvement in genocidal acts against the Yazidi community while she was a member of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. The court found her guilty of holding three Yazidi women and six children as slaves in Raqqa during the period between 2014 and 2016. This landmark case marks the first time crimes committed by IS against Yazidis have been prosecuted in Sweden.
Ishaq relocated to Syria with her family in 2013 and is already serving sentences for taking her young sons to IS territory, one of whom died while being used as a child soldier. The Stockholm District Court noted Ishaq’s independent actions in enforcing the enslavement of her victims, forcing them to wear veils, practice Islam, and subjecting them to physical violence.
The Yazidi community has faced extensive persecution, with IS launching a genocidal campaign against them in August 2014 that resulted in about 5,000 deaths and the abduction of more than 6,000 women and children. Ishaq’s conviction is seen as a pivotal step in fostering trust between the Yazidi community in Sweden and local authorities, a critical move considering the fears many had of reporting crimes due to potential repercussions from IS.
With a growing number of Swedish nationals—around 300—having joined IS, this case represents a significant judicial response to the atrocities committed by this group. After fleeing Raqqa in 2017 and being extradited back to Sweden in 2020, Ishaq maintains her innocence, with her lawyer indicating that an appeal may be forthcoming. The case continues to draw attention to the plight of the Yazidi people and the ongoing challenges they face in the aftermath of IS's brutal campaign.
