Iraq to hang German woman for Daesh links

baghdad — An Iraqi court said on Sunday it had condemned to death by hanging a German woman of Moroccan origin after finding her guilty of belonging to the Daesh group.

She was sentenced for providing “logistical support and helping the terrorist group to carry out crimes”, said court spokesman Abdel Settar Bayraqdar.

“The accused admitted during interrogations that she left Germany for Syria then Iraq to join Daesh with her two daughters, who married members of the terrorist organisation,” he said.

In September 2017, the same court sentenced to death by hanging a Russian man who was captured in Iraq’s second city Mosul and found guilty of fighting for Daesh.

Iraqi forces expelled the militants from Mosul in July 2017, ending three years of Daesh rule in the city. The same month, a German teenage girl suspected of joining Daesh was arrested in Mosul, according to Germany’s justice department.

German daily Der Spiegel reported she had been held in Baghdad with three other German women including one of Moroccan origin.

Baghdad declared victory over Daesh in December after expelling the militants from vast areas of Iraq it seized in 2014.

There are no official figures for arrests of militants during the battle against Daesh, but Iraqi commanders and Iraqi Kurdish fighters say hundreds gave themselves up.

Others are said to have escaped by blending in with civilians fleeing the fighting.

In the province surrounding Mosul alone, more than 4,000 militants were arrested, police chief General Wathiq Al Hamdani said. — AFP