A German schoolgirl who ran away to become an Isis bride has been sentenced to six years in prison by an Iraqi court following her arrest during the battle for Mosul.
Linda Wenzel - who sobbed in a television interview last year that she had ruined her life - was too young to receive the death penalty, The Times reports.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Wenzel led her home in Pulsnitz, east Germany, at the age of 15 after talking to extremists online and converting to Islam, The Independent reports. She entered Iraq via Turkey and Syria and married an Isis fighter from Chechnya.
According to the Daily Express, Wenzel has been “caged” for her role as an “Islamic enforcer” with Isis. The Daily Mail says she worked for the all-female Al-Khansaa Brigade, who patrolled Isis territories and handed out beatings to women who violated religious laws such as venturing outside without a male family member.
-
Why these Iraqi elections are so importantThe Explainer The US and Israel are increasingly pressuring Baghdad to tackle Iran-backed militants, while weakened Iran sees Iraq as a vital remaining ally
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
France’s ‘red hands’ trial highlights alleged Russian disruption operationsUNDER THE RADAR Attacks on religious and cultural institutions around France have authorities worried about Moscow’s effort to sow chaos in one of Europe’s political centers
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
