Alleged Islamic State fighter on trial in Netherlands for war crimes

A Dutch-born alleged Islamic State militant went on trial in the Netherlands on Monday for war crimes committed in Iraq and Syria. It came after posing with a crucified body and sharing images of dead victims online. It is the first trial in the Netherlands dealing with war crimes committed by an alleged Islamic State militant.

Oussama Achraf Akhlafa, 24, is charged with violating the personal dignity of war victims, which is protected under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, as well as membership of a terrorist organization. Prosecutors demanded a prison sentence of seven years, eight months. Prosecutors said Akhlafa had posed next to the crucified body of a man on a wooden cross and distributed pictures of an IS militant holding the head of a dead Kurdish fighter, and of a dead woman with the foot of someone standing on her body.