German prosecutors have announced the arrest of two suspected Islamic State (IS) members accused of enslaving and sexually abusing Yazidi girls in Syria and Iraq.
The suspects, identified as Twana H. S. and Asia R. A., both Iraqi nationals, face charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and membership in a foreign terrorist organization, according to the federal prosecutor’s office.
Allegations against Twana H. S. include repeated rape of both girls, with assistance from Asia R. A., who facilitated the abuse by preparing a room and applying makeup to one of the victims.
Prosecutors revealed that the girls endured severe physical violence as punishment for perceived mistakes, including beatings with a broomstick and scalding with hot water.
The arrests were made in Regensburg and the Roth district of Bavaria, where the suspects were taken into custody on Tuesday.
Twana H. S. and Asia R. A. were reportedly married under Islamic law and affiliated with IS in Iraq and Syria from 2015 to 2017, during which time they held the two Yazidi girls as slaves.
The Yazidis, a Kurdish-speaking minority group from northern Iraq, have faced persecution by IS militants, who have subjected them to violence, rape, and forced recruitment.
In addition to enslavement and physical abuse, the suspects allegedly prevented the girls from practicing their religion, forcing them to adhere to Islam instead.
Prior to leaving Syria in November 2017, the suspects transferred the girls to other IS members, furthering the organization’s objective of eradicating the Yazidi religion.
The suspects are currently in pre-trial detention as prosecutors pursue legal action against them.
In a separate case, a German woman identified as Jennifer W. was sentenced to 14 years in prison last year for enslaving a five-year-old Yazidi girl, who died of thirst while in her captivity.
The court’s decision to uphold the lengthy sentence underscored the severity of the crimes committed by individuals affiliated with terrorist organizations like ISIS.