Swedish Prosecutor Appeals Genocide Conviction, Seeks Life Sentence

The prosecutor has appealed the Stockholm District Court’s verdict against Lina Ishaq, who was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and serious war crimes committed against the Ezidi people. The appeal, filed on February 17, 2025, requests that the initial 12-year prison sentence be replaced with a life sentence due to the severity of the crimes.

On February 11, the Stockholm District Court sentenced Ishaq for crimes committed in Syria in 2015. The prosecutor argues that the punishment should be significantly stricter, either in the form of a life sentence or a longer fixed-term prison sentence.

A Unique Case in Swedish Legal History

This case is considered unprecedented in Sweden, as crimes against humanity have not previously been prosecuted in a Swedish court. The legal system is now handling a conviction involving systematic enslavement, a crime that, according to the prosecution, carries a particularly high penalty value.

Additionally, international rulings on similar cases, particularly those involving crimes against children, remain limited. The prosecutor emphasizes the need to establish a legal precedent regarding the appropriate sentencing for such offenses.

The case has now been referred to the Svea Court of Appeal, where the final decision on Ishaq’s sentence will be made.

What was Lina Ishaq convicted of?

Lina Ishaq was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and severe war crimes for her involvement in the enslavement and mistreatment of Ezidi women and children in Raqqa, Syria, between 2014 and 2015. The court found that she held Ezidi captives in conditions of slavery, imposed forced religious conversion, and subjected them to both physical and psychological abuse. Her actions were determined to be part of the broader campaign of genocide carried out by IS against the Ezidi people.

Initially, the court deemed a 16-year prison sentence appropriate. However, due to a prior conviction, the sentence was reduced to 12 years. On January 17, 2025, the prosecutor filed an appeal, seeking a life sentence for Ishaq or, at the very least, a longer prison term than the 12 years originally imposed to better reflect the gravity of her crimes.