On 25 March 2026, the International Crimes Division of the Appeals Court in The Hague handed down its judgment in the criminal case against the Dutch Hasna A., who had traveled to IS’s so-called ‘caliphate’ in 2015 with her underaged son. The District Court of The Hague had previously convicted Hasna A. by verdict of 11 December 2024, for membership of terrorist organization IS, participation and promotion of IS terrorist crimes and for endangerment of her underaged child with whom she lived in the warzone for years. The most serious crime for which Hasna A. was convicted was the international crime of slavery committed against an enslaved Yazidi woman referred to throughout the trial as ‘Z.’, who was assisted by lawyers Brechtje Vossenberg and Barbara van Straaten.
The substantive hearings in the appellate proceedings in this case –a case that is also known by the name ‘Banning’— took place from 9-11 February 2026 at the Judicial Complex of Schiphol. On the second day of the substantive hearings before the Appeals Court, Z. exercised her right to speak via her lawyer Brechtje Vossenberg; in addition to the lawyer’s oral submissions a video message recorded by Z. herself was also played. In first instance, Hasna A. had also been prosecuted for slavery of a second Yazidi woman but was acquitted for lack of evidence. For similar reasons the Public Prosecutor’s Office decided not to pursue its appeal against that acquittal.
In the judgment handed down yesterday, the Appeals Court not only confirmed the conviction of Hasna A. for terrorism-related charges and child endangerment. It also confirmed the conviction for slavery committed against Z. and sentenced Hasna A. to an unconditional prison term of 9 years. With regard to the sentencing, the Appeals Court i.a. considered the following:
[Free translation from Dutch:] ‘Through her actions and in a manner that was degrading to human dignity, the defendant violated the personal freedom of the victim Z., a Yazidi. The victim’s statements clearly show how much she suffered while being held as a slave and the consequences that this had for her. Moreover, the defendant’s actions were part of IS’s systematic attack on the Yazidi community. Crimes against humanity are among the most serious crimes that exist, namely international crimes that fill the entire international community with concern and that must not go unpunished. IS’s attack on the Yazidi community, whereby women and girls were enslaved, sparked widespread international outrage and alarm. The court holds it against the defendant that she showed no concern whatsoever for the person that victim Z. was, and instead used her as a slave for her own convenience together with her accomplice.’
Contrary to the District Court, the Appeals Court also considered Z.’s claim for damages on the basis of the applicable Syrian civil law, and awarded immaterial damages.
Annexes
- The press release issued by the Appeals Court on 25 March 2026
- The press release issued by Yazda, in which you can read, amongst others, Z.’s reaction to the judgment
- The press release issued by the Nuhuanović Foundation
See also
- N. Navrouzov (Yazda), ‘Beyond the courtroom: making justice visible to the Yazidi community’ (Justiceinfo.net). An op/ed in which the director of Yazda commends the Dutch courts for making the hearings in the criminal case ‘Banning’ accessible to the Yazidi-community outside the Netherlands.
Previously
- District Court of The Hague convicts IS-bride Hasna A. today, for slavery of a Yazidi woman in Syria
- Start of substantive hearings in criminal trial against Hasna A. (crimes against Yazidis)
[Source: unknown (public domain). Image of Lalish, which was also the background to Z.’s video message that was played during the substantive hearings on appeal]