IS membership trial: Mother in court

Terrorism - IS membership trial: Mother in court

A trial against a mother of three children for membership of a terrorist organization abroad began at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg on Monday. The 31-year-old German-Algerian national is alleged to have belonged to the terrorist group Junud al-Sham and the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) between 2013 and 2017.

In May 2013, she traveled with her daughter, who was only four months old at the time, to Syria to join her husband, according to the indictment from the federal prosecutor's office. There they lived together in a house from which the Junud al-Sham had driven out the residents. The accused reportedly had a semi-automatic weapon.

In February 2014, the couple joined the IS. Shortly after the birth of a second child in September 2015, the husband died. At the end of 2015, the accused married a wounded IS fighter and gave birth to a third child in September 2017.

When her second husband left her shortly afterwards, she made efforts to return to Germany, as the federal prosecutor's office explained. In March 2018, she moved to Bonn and in September 2022 to Kiel. She was arrested there on June 20, 2023 and has been in custody ever since. Further charges include violation of the duty of care and education, war crimes against property and violation of the War Weapons Control Act.

The 31-year-old said after the arraignment that she would comment on the charges. Her defense attorney announced a statement for the next trial date on Tuesday.

Statement from the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office dated 30.10.23 on the indictment

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1. The trial took place at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg, which is located in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein.
2. The terrorist organization she is accused of belonging to, Junud al-Sham, and its parent organization, Islamic State (IS), operate primarily in conflict zones, such as Syria.
3. During her time in Syria, the accused actively participated in terrorist processes, as evidenced by her possession of a semi-automatic weapon.
4. The federal prosecutor's office in Germany is thoroughly investigating the case, as it involves serious charges related to terrorism, criminality, and violations of international law, including war crimes against property and the War Weapons Control Act.
5. The Higher Regional Court in Hamburg, responsible for this case, is known for handling complex trials involving international terrorism, such as this one involving a mother from Schleswig-Holstein.

Source: www.stern.de