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Case: Nils D. (Subject Matter) -

Case No:III-6 StS 5/18; 3 StR 187/22 - 2nd Inst. Verdict – Final

Prosecuting Country: Germany
Nationality: German

Sentence

2nd Instance:

10 years imprisonment

1st Instance:

10 years imprisonment

Case Summary

Nils D. travelled to Syria in late 2013 where he joined ISIS. Between March and November 2014 he was part of a group of people involved in the torture of ISIS prisoners in Manbij, Syria. In at least one case, a prisoner died after Nils D. and other ISIS members beat him with batons and tortured him. Nils D. was found guilty of membership in a foreign terrorist organisation as well as the war crime of murder and murder on 26 November 2021. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, including his remaining sentence from a previous related conviction. His conviction and sentence were upheld by the Federal Court of Justice on 10 August 2022.

Criminal Case Records

Indictment

13 July 2018
Core International Crimes Charges

  • 3 counts of war crime of murder

Terrorism Charges

  • 3 counts of membership in a terrorist organisation

Other Domestic Charges

  • 3 counts of murder

Verdict

2nd Instance:

  • Core International Crimes

  • 1 count of war crime of murder

  • 1 count of membership in a foreign terrorist organisation

  • Domestic Crimes

  • 1 count of murder

1st Instance:

  • Core International Crimes

  • 1 count of war crime of murder

  • 1 count of membership in a foreign terrorist organisation

  • Domestic Crimes

  • 1 count of murder

More details

Defendant

Defendant

Nationality:

Gender:

Progress details

Progress details

Case status: 2nd Inst. Verdict – Final

Verdict status: Partial Acquittal

Case details

Case details

Affiliated group: ISIS

Travelled to conflict zone: Yes

Prosecution

Prosecution

Special procedure: N/A

Ground of jurisdiction: Active Personality

Sentencing Data

Mitigating Factors

  • Defendant significantly contributed to the solution of other crimes (crown witness)

Aggravating Factors

None


Evidence Used

  • Several witnesses-most of them only appeared during the trial
  • Related MLAs to Turkey prolonged the proceedings
  • Key incriminating witness could not confirm two more charges which had to be dropped

Sources

Indictment – Press Release

1st Instance Verdict – Press Release

2nd Instance Verdict – Full Judgment

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Last update: 6 October 2025