This week, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) released a new policy paper by
researcher Sofia Koller, Six Years Later: A Status Update On The Prosecution Of
Female Returnees In Germany, examining the prosecution of women who returned to
Germany after traveling to Iraq and Syria to join terrorist organizations such
as the Islamic State (ISIS). Koller has extensively covered the subject of
foreign terrorist fighters, including analysis of the prosecution and
reintegration of ISIS fighters in European countries.





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New CEP Policy Paper: Six Years Later: A Status Update On The Prosecution Of
Female Returnees In Germany


(New York, N.Y.) – This week, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) released a
new policy paper
<[link removed] Update
Prosecution of Female Returnees in Germany_February 2024.pdf> by researcher
Sofia Koller,Six Years Later: A Status Update On The Prosecution Of Female
Returnees In Germany, examining the prosecution of women who returned to
Germany after traveling to Iraq and Syria to join terrorist organizations such
as the Islamic State (ISIS). Koller has extensively covered the subject of
foreign terrorist fighters, including analysis of the prosecution and
reintegration of ISIS fighters in European countries.



As of January 2024, almost 30 percent of all female returnees – at least 37
out of 129 – have received their final verdict. The remainder of returnees have
a pending appeal, are still in trial or awaiting trial, or are currently being
investigated. On average, the female returnees have been sentenced to around
three and a half years in prison.



Koller thoroughly studied the trials of several female returnees, including
those of the women given the longest sentences –Jennifer W.
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(14 years in prison, pending appeal),Nadine K.
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(nine years and three months, pending appeal), andMarcia M.
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(eight years and six months in prison) – in her series ISIS Women in Court.
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The policy paper also includes a list of 40 female returnees prosecuted in
Germany, including their convictions, (prison) sentences and a short case
summary.



In this most recent policy paper, Koller recommends repatriating all
remaining German nationals from Northeast Syria and working with respective
authorities in Iraq and Syria to issue extradition orders for those who refuse
to return. Koller cites numerous past incidences of repatriation as evidence of
the German government’s ability to retrieve its citizens and allow for
appropriate risk management as well as prosecution.



Koller also recommends improving access to gender-disaggregated data on
criminal justice responses and including intersecting grounds in charges for
core international crimes. The former would enhance research and corresponding
trial effectiveness on gendered differences, and the latter would allow for
more accurate charges. For instance, crimes committed by ISIS against Yazidis,
a Kurdish religious minority primarily in northern Iraq, would include
intersecting religious and gender-based charges.



While Germany is currently planning another small repatriation mission for
women and children remaining in Northeast Syria, a possible return of German
male fighters remains however untackled.



To read Sofia Koller’s full policy paper Six Years Later: A Status Update on
the Prosecution of Female Returnees in Germany,please click here
<[link removed] Update
Prosecution of Female Returnees in Germany_February 2024.pdf>.



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