German federal prosecutors on Monday charged an Iraqi couple with enslavement, torture, and war crimes, alleging they enslaved two young Yazidi girls and subjected them to brutal physical and sexual abuse.
Prosecutors stated that the couple identified as Twana H.S. and Asia R.A in line with German privacy rules, were members of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria between October 2015 and December 2017, news agency Associated Press reported.
They allegedly enslaved a 5-year-old Yazidi girl in late 2015 and a 12-year-old Yazidi girl starting in October 2017. They were arrested in Bavaria in April.
According to the charges, the man committed repeated sexual assaults on both girls, whilst the woman facilitated these acts by preparing the room and applying makeup to one victim.
The victims endured severe physical abuse and were forbidden from practising their faith. They were forced to perform household duties and provide childcare under duress.
Specific instances of abuse included the man striking the older girl with a broomstick, whilst the woman allegedly burnt the younger girl’s hand with hot water. Both children were subjected to standing on one leg for thirty-minute periods as punishment.
Prior to departing Syria in November 2017, the accused transferred custody of the girls to other IS members. The prosecutor’s statement further concluded that “All of this served the organisation’s objective to destroy the Yazidi religion.”