Soldier receives five-year imprisonment for ISIS association conviction
Peer-to-Peer Blab: Exploring the Case of Two Acquaintances Embracing ISIS
A military officer and an assistant engineer found themselves in hot water, facing charges for joining ISIS and promoting its harmful ideology. Adjudicated by the Court of Appeal, the case, as detailed by Al Jarida, involved membership in and financing of ISIS, along with establishing a platform to spread its toxic messaging.
Presiding over the trial were Counselor Nasr Salem Al-Haid and his fellow judges, Saud Al-Sanea and Tariq Metwally. The two defendants, one a soldier and the other an engineer, were accused and, ultimately, the Court of Appeal upheld the verdict, sentencing the first defendant to five years behind bars.
With solid evidence in their arsenal, the Public Prosecution had no trouble making their case. The first defendant's confession, security testimony, and digital evidence from his mobile device formed the basis of their allegations. Their actions against the nation's interests were severe, as their participation in a terrorist group intent on destabilizing the country posed a major threat.
The defendants, aware of ISIS' destructive goals, willingly joined ISIS, a global terrorist organization recognized by the United Nations Security Council. In an interview with the Deputy Public Prosecutor, the first accused admitted to supporting ISIS since its inception in 2015, expressing a strong allegiance to its ideas and actions.
The first defendant divulged further that he had taken the steps of pledging allegiance to the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in private, vowing to obey his commands. Financially, he supported the organization by providing 60 Kuwaiti dinars via a middleman in Kuwait, intending for the funds to reach ISIS directly.
Expanding his efforts on various social media platforms, the first accused established several connections with fellow ISIS members and supporters. Channeling his intentions to amplify the group's message, he shared videos, news updates, and related content. Furthermore, he managed channels on Telegram, allowing others to join and consume radical content like flexible clips and fresh updates on ISIS activities.
Initiated in 2017, the first accused also encountered the second defendant on a Telegram chat following their shared enthusiasm for ISIS. The second defendant urged caution due to the precarious situation before suggesting an alternative path: traveling to Yemen to join ISIS in the region. However, the first defendant's aspirations were put on hold due to personal obligations and the volatile climate.
Communicating with ISIS sympathizers on Telegram, the first accused connected with an individual named “Abu Amir” in 2024, aiming to join the organization's ranks in Syria. However, travel complications halted this attempt.
Modern laws and penalties for joining or supporting ISIS vary dramatically by country. For instance, in the United States, providing resources to terroristic groups like providing training, recruitment, propaganda, or financial aid is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a hefty $250,000 fine. Foreign Terrorist Organizations like ISIS can also face civil suits with potential treble damages for victims.
In other countries, laws and penalties typically adhere to UN Security Council resolutions or domestic counterterrorism statutes, often featuring life imprisonment or capital punishment. Be mindful of your nation's specific counterterrorism legislation and international commitments under the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
In the trial presided over by Counselor Nasr Salem Al-Haid and his colleagues, the first defendant, a military officer, admitted to communicating with ISIS sympathizers on Telegram and expressed a strong allegiance to the terrorist organization. He also requested funds to support ISIS and spread their message, a violation of the country's crime-and-justice laws. The sentencing rendered by the Court of Appeal was a five-year prison term for the first defendant due to his involvement in a terrorist group that posed a major threat to the nation. The general-news outlet Al Jarida detailed that this case involved membership in and financing of ISIS, along with communicating harmful ideas and establishing a platform to spread the toxic messaging of the terrorist organization.
