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Human rights

US Justice Department Revokes Citizenship of Bosnian War Criminal

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The US Justice Department has reaffirmed a decision revoking the naturalized US citizenship of a Bosnian war criminal, Sammy Yetisen, who concealed her human rights abuses and war crimes in Bosnia. Yetisen participated in extrajudicial killings and war crimes, including the Trusina Massacre, where she and others executed six unarmed Croat prisoners of war and civilians. The Justice Department has warned that individuals who commit war crimes and human rights abuses around the globe are not safe in the US.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sammy Yetisen, a Bosnian war criminal, had her US citizenship revoked due to her concealment of human rights abuses and war crimes in Bosnia.
  • Yetisen participated in extrajudicial killings and war crimes, including the Trusina Massacre, where she and others executed six unarmed Croat prisoners of war and civilians.
  • The Justice Department has warned that individuals who commit war crimes and human rights abuses around the globe are not safe in the US.
  • Yetisen was born in a town in the former Yugoslavia and joined the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a special forces detachment known as the Zulfikar Unit, which was renowned for its cruel treatment of prisoners.
  • The Zulfikar Unit was responsible for beating, sexually assaulting, burning, and cutting prisoners, and Yetisen participated in these atrocities.
  • Yetisen was extradited to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011, where she pleaded guilty to committing war crimes and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.
  • After completing her sentence, Yetisen returned to the US, but the Justice Department filed a complaint in 2018 seeking her denaturalization based on her crimes and failure to disclose them.
  • The US District Court for the District of Oregon revoked Yetisen's citizenship in 2023, a decision recently affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Statistics:

  • 1993: The Trusina Massacre took place, in which Yetisen and others executed six unarmed Croat prisoners of war and civilians.
  • 1996: Yetisen came to the US as a refugee, alleging she had been persecuted as a Muslim.
  • 2001: Yetisen applied for naturalization, omitting her service in the Zulfikar Unit and participation in extrajudicial killings.
  • 2002: Yetisen became a US citizen.
  • 2009: The Bosnia and Herzegovina Prosecutor's Office issued a warrant for Yetisen's arrest, alleging war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war.
  • 2011: The US extradited Yetisen to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she pleaded guilty to committing war crimes.
  • 2012: Yetisen was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.
  • 2018: The Justice Department filed a complaint seeking Yetisen's denaturalization.
  • 2023: The US District Court for the District of Oregon revoked Yetisen's citizenship.

Sources:

  • The Justice Department
  • United States Attorneys General
  • US District Court for the District of Oregon
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  • Civil Division's Office of Immigration Litigation
  • Office of International Affairs

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