It is a true dive into horror that began this Monday at the Special Assize Court of Paris. The horror of acts attributed to a man, Sabri Essid, and the terrorist group to which he pledged allegiance, the Islamic State group. Between 2014 and 2016 in Iraq and Syria, Daesh targeted the Yazidi community, for reasons including religion. This was followed by a mass massacre: according to the UN, more than 5,000 people were killed, 400,000 had to flee. Thousands of women and adolescents were enslaved and sold.
A French jihadist judged for genocide for the first time
Three women acted as civilian parties in this trial in Paris, all three accused Sabri Essid of buying them, abusing them, and raping them. They claim that their 7 children were also victims of the jihadist. This trial is the result of years of work by associations to find and identify the Yazidi victims. These NGOs also helped to qualify the facts.
This is the first time in France that a jihadist is being judged for participating in a genocide. It is also the first time that a French jurisdiction will rule on the crimes committed by the Islamic State group against the Yazidi minority. This trial will therefore be significant. For the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office, the stakes also include recognition, memory, and reparation.
A unique aspect of this trial is that Sabri Essid is not present. He is presumed dead. However, no proof of his death has been provided, so he could reappear. This is why he could be judged this week in Paris. The decision of the Paris Assize Court is expected on Friday, March 20.
