Iraq sentences seven French nationals for Daesh membership

An Iraqi court in Baghdad has sentenced six French nationals to life imprisonment and a seventh to 15 years for their involvement with the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. The Al Karkh Criminal Court issued the rulings in the presence of defense lawyers and representatives from the French embassy.

The convicts were classified as “highly dangerous” due to their roles in threatening national security, destabilizing Iraq and Syria, and inciting terrorist attacks in other nations. The defendants were part of a group of 47 French nationals transferred to Iraqi authorities from detention facilities in northeastern Syria last year. This relocation was part of an arrangement coordinated by US forces and Iraqi authorities to address security concerns following the loss of control by Kurdish-led forces in parts of the region.

The presiding judge stated that the sentences were imposed under Iraq's counterterrorism law for joining the group and spreading fear. The court opted for life imprisonment rather than the death penalty because the defendants were young. Defense lawyers have indicated they intend to appeal the sentences in the Court of Cassation.