Facts
Asia R. A. formed a couple with Twana H. S., married under Islamic law, and they both were members of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria from 2015 to 2017. Since the end of 2015 at the latest, they allegedly kept a then five-year-old Yazidi girl and, from October 2017, another then twelve-year-old Yazidi girl as slaves.
Twana H. S. allegedly raped both children repeatedly, with the help of Asia R. A., who prepared the room and put make-up on one of the girls. In addition, they reportedly exploited the slaves economically by constantly using them for housework and childcare. The girls were forbidden to practice their own religion; instead, they had to follow Islamic prayers and rules of faith according to the defendants’ instructions.
Asia R. A. and Twana H. S. would also respond to the children’s alleged misconduct with harsh physical violence. On one occasion, Twana H. S. allegedly hit the older girl with a broomstick. Asia R. A. reportedly scalded the younger girl’s hand with hot water and repeatedly forced both children to stand on one leg for half an hour each as punishment.
Before leaving Syria in November 2017, they handed the girls over to other members of ISIS.
Procedure
An arrest warrant against Asia R. A. and Twana H. S. was issued by the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice on 19 March 2024 and both were arrested on 9 April 2024 in the southern state of Bavaria, by officers of the Federal Criminal Police.
They were brought before the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice on 9 and 10 April 2024, who issued the arrest warrants and ordered them to be remanded in custody.
On 9 December 2024, Asia R. A. and Twana H. S. were indicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and membership in a foreign terrorist organization.
On 19 May 2025, the trial of Twana H. S. and Asia R. A. began before the High Regional Court of Munich.
On 13 July 2026, Asia R. A. and Twana H. S. were convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity involving enslavement, torture, sexual violence, infliction of severe psychological harm, deprivation of liberty and persecution, war crimes against persons through cruel or inhuman treatment and sexual violence, as well as aggravated sexual abuse of children, and membership a foreign terrorist organization. Asia R. A. was handed a juvenile sentence of nine and a half years and Twana H. S. was sentenced to life imprisonment.