The wife of late Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been sentenced to death by hanging by an Iraqi court for committing crimes against humanity, genocide against the Yazidi people, and terrorist actions. Asma Mohammed was arrested in Turkey in 2018 and later handed over to Iraqi authorities. According to sources, there are numerous jihadists and their family members in Iraqi prisons, and this appears to be the approach taken by Iraq in dealing with high-profile detainees.
Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, stated that family members of senior leaders were often involved in terrorist operations and propaganda, suggesting that Mohammed's involvement is highly likely. However, he also warned that her hanging could be used by ISIS as a recruitment tool, potentially turning her into a martyr.
Iraqi officials claim that ISIS kidnapped Yazidi women, and Mohammed allegedly held them captive in her home in Mosul. The court sentenced Baghdadi's wife to death for her role in these crimes against humanity and genocide against the Yazidi people, as well as for contributing to terrorist actions.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former ISIS leader, died in 2019 by detonating an explosive vest during a U.S. special forces raid in Syria. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted the atrocities committed by ISIS against the Yazidis, including abductions, killings, and enslavement, emphasizing the ongoing impact on the Yazidi community worldwide.
