Syria
Sonia M. and Abdelnasser B.
Type of liability
Personne physique
Alleged perpetrator(s)
Sonia M. and Abdelnasser B.
Nationality of alleged perpetrator(s)
French
Legal classification of crime(s)
Crime against humanity
Genocide
Source of the complaint
Victim
Ongoing proceedings
oui
Regime
4 - 113 CP
Summary of facts
Sonia M. is reportedly the former wife of Abdelnasser B., a member of the Islamic State group. They allegedly enslaved a Yazidi teenager in Syria.
The victim, who was 16 at the time, was reportedly bought by Sonia M.’s husband, Abdelnasser B., alias “Abou Moutana”, head of external operations of the Islamic State. She states that she was held captive for more than a month in spring 2015 in Syria.
She says that she could not drink, eat or shower without Sonia M.’s permission and accuses her of having assaulted her twice and of having been aware that her husband was raping her.
Abdelnasser B. has been presumed dead since 2016.
Amnesty International France recalls that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.
Legal proceedings
March 14, 2024: Sonia M. was indicted for “crimes against humanity” and “genocide.”<br />
During the judicial investigation, the Yazidi victim joined as a civil party and was heard.<br />
September 24, 2024: the investigating judge of the Crimes Against Humanity Unit of the Paris Judicial Court ordered the indictment of Sonia M. and Abdelnasser B. before the Paris Assize Court for “crimes against humanity” and “genocide,” under the sub-counts of enslavement, imprisonment, torture and rape.<br />
In November 2024: the Public Prosecutor’s Office issued submissions charging Sonia M. and Abdelnasser B. with “genocide” and “crimes against humanity,” under the sub-counts of enslavement, imprisonment, torture, persecution, rape and other inhumane acts. Sonia M. is also charged with “complicity in crimes against humanity.” She appealed the charges of “genocide,” “crimes against humanity” and “complicity in crimes against humanity” against her. Sonia M. appealed her indictment.<br />
January 22, 2025: the Paris Court of Appeal annulled the indictment of Sonia M. for “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” and upheld the charges of “rape constituting complicity in crimes against humanity” and “terrorist criminal conspiracy.”<br />
January 31, 2025: the Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed to the Court of Cassation against the dropping of the genocide charges.<br />
May 7, 2025: the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation quashed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, holding that a person may be prosecuted for genocide for having attacked a single member of a group targeted by <em>“a concerted plan aimed at its total or partial destruction”</em>, contrary to the position taken by the Paris Court of Appeal.<br />
July 8, 2025: the Court of Appeal ordered that Sonia M. be tried for genocide by the special Assize Court.</p>
Complaint
Legal basis for jurisdiction (article)
Sources
JusticeInfo, "French is suspected to be tried over enslavement of Yazidi teenager", 2024
JusticeInfo, "Yazidi genocide trial to take place in France", 2024
Trial International, "Universal Jurisdiction Annual Review 2025", 2025