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A Swedish court has sentenced a 52-year-old woman to 12 years in prison for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in Syria.

Lina Ishaq, a Swedish citizen, enslaved three women and six children while forcing them to practice Islam. She was a member of the Islamic State (IS) and had already received a six-year sentence for allowing her 12-year-old son to be recruited as an IS child soldier.

Crimes Committed in Raqqa Under IS Rule

Between August 2014 and December 2016, Ishaq committed these crimes in Raqqa, the self-proclaimed capital of the Islamic State. She joined IS in 2013 along with 300 other Swedish nationals, mostly women, as reported by Swedish intelligence agencies.

This case marks Sweden’s first prosecution related to Islamic State’s crimes against Yazidis, an ancient religious minority from Iraq. IS militants targeted this group in large numbers, carrying out kidnappings and forced indoctrination.

IS Abductions and Ishaq’s Capture

In 2014, IS militants abducted thousands of Yazidi women and children, forcing them into slavery in Syria. The terrorist group also killed 5,000 Yazidis and displaced more than 400,000 people from Iraq’s Sinjar region. Survivors described extreme brutality, with families torn apart and victims subjected to horrific abuse.

Following the collapse of IS in 2017, Ishaq fled Raqqa but was later captured by Syrian Kurdish fighters. She managed to escape but was arrested by Turkish authorities, who detained her and her children. In 2020, she was extradited to Sweden, where she faced trial for her crimes.

International Response and Legal Actions

Sweden is not the only country prosecuting individuals connected to IS. Many European nations have struggled with how to handle citizens who joined the extremist group. Some have revoked citizenship, while others have opted for trials similar to Ishaq’s.

The conviction highlights ongoing efforts to bring justice to IS victims. Legal experts believe the case could set a precedent for prosecuting other European nationals who participated in crimes abroad.

Sweden’s legal system remains committed to addressing human rights violations. As international courts continue to investigate IS crimes, more prosecutions may follow.

For further updates on legal proceedings and global efforts against terrorism, visit Financial Mirror.