The Hasna A. case marks the first case in which an individual is being prosecuted in the Netherlands for crimes committed against the Yazidi community, and it underscores the international commitment to seek justice for victims of mass atrocities and reinforces the role of national courts in addressing international crimes.
The Accused is a 33 year-old Dutch national from Hengelo named Hasna A., one of twelve Dutch women who were repatriated from detention camps in Northern Syria in late 2022, where they had been held following the conclusion of ISIS’s occupation and the fall of its so-called ‘caliphate.’ She is being charged with slavery as a crime against humanity, relating to her alleged enslavement of two Yazidi women, and is facing charges related to her alleged membership of the terrorist organization ISIS and for allegedly endangering her underaged son.
The substantive hearing in this landmark trial is scheduled to take place on 14, 16 and 17 October 2024 at the at the Schiphol Judicial Complex (JCS). The hearings will be accessible to the public in-person and via livestream, and you can reach out to info@yazidilegalnetwork.org to register.
The Nuhanovic Foundation and Yazidi Legal Network support this case by providing logistical aid to the lawyer of the victim, facilitating participation of witnesses in the proceedings, and facilitating public participation in the hearings. For more details and to understand the importance of this case and check out our comprehensive FAQ explainer in English, Arabic and Swedish by clicking on the images below.
