Iraq condemns French female jihadist to life in prison
France24, 2018-04-17
Iraq on
Tuesday sentenced a French woman to life in prison for belonging to the Islamic
State group, the latest in a series of court rulings since the country’s defeat
of IS.
Tuesday sentenced a French woman to life in prison for belonging to the Islamic
State group, the latest in a series of court rulings since the country’s defeat
of IS.
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| © Ammar Karim, AFP | French jihadist Djamila Boutoutaou attends her trial at the Central penal Court in Baghdad, on April 17, 2018. |
Djamila
Boutoutaou, a 29-year-old of Algerian origin, told a Baghdad court that she had
left France with her husband, a rapper.
Boutoutaou, a 29-year-old of Algerian origin, told a Baghdad court that she had
left France with her husband, a rapper.
She said
she thought they were going on holiday but “when I arrived in Turkey I discovered that
my husband was a jihadist”.
she thought they were going on holiday but “when I arrived in Turkey I discovered that
my husband was a jihadist”.
She said
she was forced by her husband to join IS
and live in the “caliphate” that the jihadists proclaimed in 2014 straddling Syria and Iraq.
she was forced by her husband to join IS
and live in the “caliphate” that the jihadists proclaimed in 2014 straddling Syria and Iraq.
Her
husband was killed near the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, northern Iraq, and
her son died in bombardment, Boutoutaou said.
husband was killed near the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, northern Iraq, and
her son died in bombardment, Boutoutaou said.
Two
Russian women, both holding children in their arms, were also sentenced to life
in prison at the same hearing.
Russian women, both holding children in their arms, were also sentenced to life
in prison at the same hearing.
Iraq
declared victory in December against IS, which at one point controlled a third
of the country.
declared victory in December against IS, which at one point controlled a third
of the country.
The Iraqi
anti-terrorism law empowers courts to convict people who are believed to have
helped IS even if they are not accused of violence.
anti-terrorism law empowers courts to convict people who are believed to have
helped IS even if they are not accused of violence.
In
January, an Iraqi court condemned a German woman to death after finding her
guilty of belonging to IS.
January, an Iraqi court condemned a German woman to death after finding her
guilty of belonging to IS.
A court
the following month sentenced another French woman to seven months in jail for
entering Iraq illegally but ordered her release on time already served.
the following month sentenced another French woman to seven months in jail for
entering Iraq illegally but ordered her release on time already served.
Several
dozen Turkish women have been sentenced to death under Iraqi anti-terrorism
laws.
dozen Turkish women have been sentenced to death under Iraqi anti-terrorism
laws.
