Sentences up to 20 years for 30 accused in terrorism trial
The main suspect in the case involving 30 people has been sentenced to 12 years, while another, who went to Syria a year ago and whose whereabouts are now unknown, was sentenced to 20 years in his absence
Sisters acquitted
The main suspect, Khalid Z, carried out dozens of thefts to finance the group. He was sentenced to 12 years. “Khalid Z is the archetype of the insurgent, cynical mentor who was responsible for infecting the youth in an entire neighbourhood,” the court said.
A woman accused of helping recruit members to fight in Syria, Fatima A, was sentenced to eight years. Two of her sons got 20 years and a third eight years. “Fatima A poisoned her surroundings with her extreme Islamist ideology,” the court said in its ruling. “Like Khalid Z she acted as a mentor, carrying out crimes to finance trips to Syria.”
The man thought to be behind the terrorist attack in Verviers in January, Abdelhamid A, was sentenced in his absence to 20 years. In August last year he kidnapped his younger brother and took him to join jihadist forces in Syria. His whereabouts are unknown.
Two sisters, Sarah and Soumaya K, were acquitted of terrorist charges. They were arrested in December on the Turkey-Syria border, but the court accepted they had not taken part in terrorist activities.
Photo courtesy VRT
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Belgian justice system
houses of justice across Flanders
appeals courts in Flanders and Brussels
judicial courts across the country
- European e-Justice Portal
- Belgian Federal Government
- Federale Overheidsdienst Justitie
