The first wife of the late leader of the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been sentenced to death by a court in Iraq for her involvement with the extremist organization and the detention of Yazidi women. Asma Mohammed, also known as Umm Hudaifa, was convicted by the Karkh Criminal Court, according to the Supreme Judicial Council.
Umm Hudaifa, who was married to Baghdadi during his brutal rule over parts of Iraq and Syria, denied involvement in IS’s atrocities in a recent interview with the BBC. However, she was extradited to Iraq from Turkey in February and has been remanded in custody while authorities investigate her for terrorism-related crimes.
The UN investigators have found clear evidence that IS committed genocide and other international crimes against the Yazidi religious minority, including the abduction and enslavement of women and children who were subjected to brutal abuses. Thousands of Yazidis were killed, and thousands more were enslaved by IS.
Umm Hudaifa has been accused by Yazidis of colluding in the kidnapping and sexual enslavement of girls and women, but she denies the accusations. Iraqi courts have handed down numerous death sentences and life prison terms to individuals convicted of membership in a terrorist organization, sparking criticism from human rights groups who say the trials have been rushed and based on confessions obtained under torture.
The sentencing of Umm Hudaifa highlights the ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for their roles in the atrocities committed by IS, shedding light on the complex legal and moral questions surrounding terrorism and its consequences.
