From 9 to 12 February, the Court of Appeal at the Schiphol Judicial Complex will hear the appeal in the Hasna A. case, a landmark case concerning crimes committed against the Yazidi community.
The Hasna A. case marked the first time an individual has been prosecuted in the Netherlands for crimes committed against Yazidis, and it underscores the international commitment to seek justice for victims of mass atrocities and highlights the important role national courts play in addressing international crimes.
The accused, Hasna A., is a 33-year-old Dutch national from Hengelo. She was one of twelve Dutch women repatriated from detention camps in northern Syria in late 2022, where they had been held following the fall of ISIS’s so-called “caliphate.”
She was prosecuted for slavery as a crime against humanity, relating to the enslavement of two Yazidi women (Z. and S.), as well as for membership of the terrorist organisation ISIS and for endangering her underage son.
In December 2024, Hasna A. was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for:
- Slavery as a crime against humanity, for enslaving a Yazidi woman and forcing her to care for her child;
- Membership of a terrorist organisation (ISIS);
- Participation in and promotion of terrorist crimes;
- Endangering her child by bringing him to a war zone.
The upcoming hearings concern the appeal in this case.
The hearings are open to the public, and a live stream link will be made available shortly. Those who wish to follow the hearings online can request access by emailing us at mail@nuhanovicfoundation.org.
We strongly encourage members of the Yazidi community to attend the hearings in person, if possible. The community’s presence in the courtroom matters, and it affirms the importance of this case and the pursuit of justice for the Yazidi people. The Nuhanovic Foundation has requested funding to cover travel expenses for Yazidi survivors who wish to monitor the case with us. Community members who may need support are invited to contact us via email.
Further updates, including details about the live stream, will be shared as soon as they are available.
