Case: Nurten J. -

Case No:7 StS 2/20 - 1st Inst. Verdict – Final

Prosecuting Country: Germany

Nationality: German

Sentence

1st Instance:

4 years and 3 months imprisonment

Case Summary

Nurten J., a German national, left Germany on 11 February 2015 with her, at the time, three-year old daughter, and travelled to Raqqa, Syria through Turkey. Once she reached her destination, she joined ISIS and married a German ISIS fighter. During her time in Syria, she gave birth to a son and also looked after her husband’s child from 2017 onwards. ISIS provided the family with two flats, which were seized from their rightful owners who had to flee from ISIS. Nurten J. has also used an enslaved a Yazidi women, who was enslaved by fellow German ISIS members. Following her return to Germany, Nurten J. was arrested and sentenced to 4 years and 3 months imprisonment on 21 April 2021, after a court found her guilty of war crimes of pillaging, crimes against humanity of enslavement, membership in a foreign terrorist organisation, and other charges.

Criminal Case Records

Indictment

2 November 2020

Core International Crimes Charges

1 count of crimes against humanity of enslavement; 5 counts of war crimes of pillaging

Terrorism Charges

1 count of membership in a terrorist organisation

Other Domestic Charges

1 count of child neglect; 3 counts of violation of weapons of war control laws; 3 counts of violation of weapon laws; 1 count of severe deprivation of liberty

Verdict

1st Instance:

Core International Crimes
4 counts of war crimes of pillaging; 1 count of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity of enslavement
8 counts of membership in a foreign terrorist organisation
Domestic Crimes
1 count of child neglect; 1 count of severe deprivation of liberty

More details

Defendant

Nationality:

Gender:

Progress details

Case status: 1st Inst. Verdict – Final

Verdict status: Partial Acquittal

Case details

Affiliated group: ISIS

Travelled to conflict zone: Yes

Prosecution

Special procedure: N/A

Ground of jurisdiction: Active Personality

Sentencing Data

Mitigating Factors

Partial confession
Showed remorse
Distanced herself from ISIS
Detention in inhumane conditions in Kurdish and Turkish camps
No criminal record
Severe negative impacts on education of her daughter
Showed remorse towards daughter
Did not use violence against the Yazidi female slave
Did not order hard works for the female Yazidi slave

Aggravating Factors

Particular cruelty and territorial and operational scope of ISIS
Long duration of membership
Crucial importance of housing that was taken from rightful Yazidi owners
Ideological and selfish motives in enslavement

Evidence Used

Expert testimony
Plaintiff statements
Partial confession
Interview of defendant's ISIS husband with ICSVE

Sources

Indictment – Press Release

1st Instance Verdict – Full Judgment

Last update: 6 October 2025