The case and why it matters
A recent article in Trouw follows the proceedings and foregrounds the voices of survivors in the courtroom — alongside the legal and symbolic weight this case carries for Yazidis worldwide.
The article focuses on the appeal in the case against Hasna A., a Dutch national charged with slavery as a crime against humanity, relating to the enslavement of two Yazidi women. It underscores why access to the hearings and transparent proceedings are central to the community’s pursuit of justice and accountability.
“They tried to eradicate our culture. We still don’t know anything about the fate of more than 2000 people from my community, not even about my parents. I’m here to show that it didn’t work out, that the sun will shine again for us too.” – Fawziya Zandinan
Survivors in the courtroom
In Trouw, Yazidi survivors describe why being present in the courtroom matters — not just as observers, but as people whose lives have been shaped by unspeakable trauma, and who insist on their right to be seen and heard. One survivor says that attending the appeal feels like a reversal of roles: moving from victimhood to standing in public and asserting their right to justice and recognition.
“I am happy to be here in the Netherlands to see how the roles have been reversed. Then IS had power over us, now she is imprisoned and we are free.” – Sepan Ajo
The Nuhanovic Foundation
The article also features insights from Hope Rikkelman, Director of the Nuhanovic Foundation. She emphasizes that the proceedings are not only about a verdict against one individual, but also about recognising the lived realities of the wider Yazidi community—and ensuring survivors have a meaningful voice in how justice is pursued and delivered.
“It is important to give the Yazidis the confidence that justice is being delivered in the Netherlands. We hope that this will encourage more survivors to testify in cases across the world where ISIS fighters are tried.” – Hope Rikkelman
Beyond one verdict
The Trouw coverage places the Hasna A. appeal within a wider question: how legal systems — and societies — confront grave human rights violations and their aftermath. By centring survivor voices and stressing transparency in formal proceedings, the piece contributes to a broader debate about what accountability looks like in practice: recognition, participation, and meaningful avenues for reparation.
Read the full article (in Dutch) on Trouw’s website.
