Ieng Thirith

Who is Ieng Thirith?

Ieng Thirith was an influential figure in the Khmer Rouge, but was neither a member of the Khmer Rouge Standing Committee nor of the Central Committee. Her original name is Khieu Thirith. Ieng Thirith is the wife of Ieng Sary, who was minister of foreign affairs of Democratic Kampuchea's Khmer Rouge regime.

She is the sister of the late Khieu Ponnary, who was the first wife of Pol Pot. Thirith was the Minister of Social Action during the regime. She was arrested by the Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia in November 2007 with her husband, Ieng Sary as suspect of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.