War Crimes: Five Years in Prison for IS Member - German Court Sentences Man to 5 Years for IS War Crimes
A 49-year-old man has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the Islamic State (IS) terror organization and involvement in war crimes. The man, who arrived in Germany as a refugee in 2021, was found guilty of joining IS in 2014 and participating in war crimes in Syria.
The court ruled that the man, who lived in Moers until his arrest, joined IS in the eastern Syrian city of Muhasan in 2014. He captured six fighters of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), handing them over to the IS secret service. Later, he participated in their execution, guarding the prisoners and even firing one himself.
The court considered it a mitigating factor that the man left IS voluntarily in 2016. They also noted that his involvement in the sexual exploitation of Yazidi women was not confirmed. The defendant was acquitted of several other charges, including complicity in genocide, due to lack of evidence.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office had demanded a seven-year prison sentence, while the defense requested a suspended sentence. The trial began in mid-March, and the verdict is not yet final, allowing for appeals from both the defendant and the Federal Prosecutor General. The man will now serve a five-year prison sentence for his role in the Islamic State terror organization and involvement in war crimes.
