Kim Teresa A.
Context
Conviction for war crimes committed inSyria
Type of jurisdiction
Active personality
Suspect
Kim Teresa A., German national
Country of residence of suspect
Germany
Charges
Aiding and abetting war crimes; membership in a foreign terrorist organization; violations of the War Weapons Control Act
Current status
Convicted; sentenced to four years in prison confirmed
Facts
According to the findings by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt-Main, Kim Teresa A. travelled together with her partner to Syria in June 2014, where they both joined the Islamic State (ISIS).
While her partner worked as a fighter for ISIS in various locations in Syria, Kim Teresa A. kept the joint household and took care of him in case of illness. During this time, the couple was sustained by ISIS. This included in particular the provision of housing free of charge in six cases. In each case, the shelters were occupied by ISIS after their former residents had been evicted, imprisoned or killed. In addition, they received USD 80-100 per month from ISIS, with half of this amount expressly intended for Kim Teresa A. as remuneration for her work as the wife of a combatant.
In two cases, she also received Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles from her partner, which she carried with her to ward off attacks against herself or ISIS if necessary.
During her stay in Syria, Kim Teresa A. ran two chat groups, in which life in the “caliphate” was glossed over. One group also included women in Germany who were thinking of leaving Germany in order to join ISIS. In the chat group, these women were motivated to join ISIS and given practical tips for doing so.
Procedure
After the situation had become increasingly dangerous for her, Kim Teresa A. fled the ISIS occupied territory to territory controlled by the Free Syrian Army in the spring of 2014. In autumn 2020, she fled from Syria to Turkey and returned to Germany on 2 October 2020, where she was arrested upon arrival.
On 29 October 2021, the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main found Kim Teresa A. guilty of membership in a foreign terrorist organization, war crimes against property and other rights as well as violations of the War Weapons Control Act. She was sentenced to four years in prison.
The defendant filed an appeal against the decision.
Developments in 2022
On 3 May 2022, the Federal Court of Justice rejected the appeal and confirmed Kim Teresa A.’s four-year sentence
