Baghdad, 5 April 2026
An Iraqi court has sentenced a member of ISIS to death for his role in terrorist attacks and crimes committed against Ezidis during the 2014 genocide in Şengal.
According to Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, the Al-Karkh Criminal Court found the defendant guilty of participating in operations targeting both civilians and security forces. The court confirmed his involvement in the killing of Ezidi men and the abduction of Ezidi women, crimes carried out with the aim of spreading fear and destabilizing the country.
The ruling was issued under Iraq’s Anti-Terrorism Law No. 13 of 2005, alongside the Ezidi Survivors Law No. 8 of 2021—legislation specifically recognizing and addressing the crimes committed against Ezidis.
The case relates to the events of 3 August 2014, when ISIS launched its genocidal attack on Şengal. Thousands of Ezidis were killed, and thousands of women and children were abducted, many subjected to slavery and abuse. More than a decade later, many Ezidis remain missing.
The sentencing marks another legal step toward accountability for crimes committed during the genocide. However, for many Ezidis, justice remains incomplete as numerous perpetrators have yet to face trial.
