© 2025 ICCT
Last update: 2 May 2025Case No:5-2 StE 5/17-4; 3 StR 394/20 - 2nd Inst. Verdict – Final
Abdul Jawad A. K., Syrian national, was involved in the founding of a jihadist combat unit (Katiba), which became a part of Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN) in autumn 2012. As leader of the combat unit, he was a member of a foreign terrorist organisation from 2012 until 2014. In this capacity, Abdul Jawad A. K. was, among others, involved in the detention of several prisoners of war whom he subjected to a Sharia judge. Abdul Jawad A. K. eventually executed the death sentence rendered by the Sharia judge without due process. On 2 June 2016, Abdul Jawad A. K. was arrested in Germany and later indicted for among others, 36 counts of war crimes of murder. However, the final charges were reduced to less counts and followed by a verdict on 13 January 2020 when Abdul Jawad A. K. was found guilty of membership in a foreign terrorist organisation, war crimes of murder and extrajudicial killing, as well as several domestic charges. On 10 August 2021, the Court of Appeal confirmed the first instance verdict and sentence of ‘life imprisonment with particular severity of guilt’.
21 counts of war crime of murder; 21 counts of war crime of extrajudicial killings
2 counts of membership in a terrorist organisation; 1 count of founding a terrorist organisation; 4 counts of ringleadership in a terrorist organisation
1 count of violation of weapons of war control laws; 21 counts of murder; 21 counts of deprivation of liberty resulting in death; 1 count of causing an explosion
2nd Instance:
19 counts of war crime of murder; 19 counts of war crimes of extrajudicial killings
2 counts of membership in a foreign terrorist organisation; 1 count of founding a foreign terrorist organisation; 4 counts of ringleadership in a foreign terrorist organisation
1 count of violation of weapons of war control laws; 19 counts of murder; 19 counts of deprivation of liberty resulting in death
1st Instance:
19 counts of war crime of murder; 19 counts of war crimes of extrajudicial killings
2 counts of membership in a foreign terrorist organisation; 1 count of founding a foreign terrorist organisation; 4 counts of ringleadership in a foreign terrorist organisation
1 count of violation of weapons of war control laws; 19 counts of murder; 19 counts of deprivation of liberty resulting in death
Nationality:
Gender:
Case status: 2nd Inst. Verdict – Final
Verdict status: Partial Acquittal
Affiliated group: Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN)
Travelled to conflict zone: Resident in conflict zone
Special procedure: N/A
Ground of jurisdiction: Universal Jurisdiction
Indictment – Press Release
1st Instance Verdict – Full Judgment
2nd Instance Verdict – Full Judgment
© 2025 ICCT
Last update: 2 May 2025