The Hasna A. Trial – The beginning of a landmark case in the Netherlands for crimes committed by a Dutch national against Yazidi women
Iraq, 14 October 2024
Today, hearings began in The Hague on the substantive part of the Hasna A. case, a landmark trial in which a Dutch national is being tried for crimes against Yazidi women. Beyond its national significance, the trial also represents a pivotal moment in the global fight for justice and accountability for crimes committed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), over a decade after the start of the Yazidi genocide.
Hasna A. is facing charges for alleged membership in the terrorist group ISIL, for allegedly endangering her minor son by taking him to ISIL-controlled territory in Syria in 2015, and for slavery as a crime against humanity. The latter charge pertains to her alleged involvement in atrocities committed by ISIL against members of the Yazidi community in Syria. She is accused of enslaving two Yazidi women, identified as 'Z' and 'S,' who were allegedly forced into domestic servitude and tasked with caring for the accused's son.
The trial is being held in the Netherlands under secondary universal jurisdiction, which permits Dutch courts to prosecute serious international crimes, including genocide and crimes against humanity, even if the offenses were committed outside the country.
The trial is being conducted by the international crimes division of the District Court of The Hague, beginning on October 14, with key hearings also scheduled for October 16, and 17, 2024, at the Schiphol Judicial Complex (JCS). The proceedings will be open to the public, both in person and via livestream (though the registration deadline has passed), with simultaneous interpretation from Dutch to Kurmanji to accommodate the Yazidi community. This crucial step to make the trial accessible to Yazidi community members abroad, especially in Iraq, is commendable.
Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, commented: "This case is a significant step toward justice for Yazidi victims, survivors, and the Yazidi community as a whole, who suffered mass atrocities under ISIL. We commend the Dutch authorities for their tireless work and efforts. A decade after these crimes, universal jurisdiction cases, despite their importance, unfortunately remain the only available avenue for justice. We hope that the Netherlands' recent pledge to establish an ISIL tribunal will lead to concrete action and practical steps. On this difficult yet symbolic day, we also think of the two Yazidi women who are carrying this case, as well as their legal representatives, who have worked tirelessly over the past months."
For more information on the case, we encourage you to read the materials developed by the Yazidi Legal Network and the Nuhanovic Foundation.
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To read this press release in Arabic, please click here.
To download this press release in English, please click here.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Tonny Omondi
Media and Communication Coordinator
About Yazda:
Yazda is a global community-led organization providing critical humanitarian assistance and promoting accountability and justice for the atrocities committed by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS, IS or by its Arabic acronym Da’esh, against the Yazidi community and other groups in Iraq. Yazda was established in 2014, three weeks after the genocidal campaign commenced in Sinjar, northern Iraq, and was among the first organizations on the ground providing lifesaving assistance to survivors. Yazda was the first actor to document Yazidi survivor accounts of crimes committed by ISIL.
300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA
info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org
