Paris (Reuters) 02/09/2022 06:25
12-year prison sentence for a French militant of Yazidi origin who fought in Syria
- On Tuesday, the French judiciary issued a 12-year prison sentence for a French extremist of Yazidi origin
- He was convicted of joining a “criminal network and fighting in the ranks of Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria in 2015.”
- This young man converted to Islam in 2012, which angered his Yazidi family, and he went to Turkey and then to Syria in 2015.
On Tuesday, the French judiciary issued a 12-year prison sentence for a French extremist of Yazidi origin, after he was found guilty of joining a “criminal network and fighting in the ranks of Al Nosra Front in Syria in 2015.
The Public Prosecution had requested a 12-year prison sentence for Artyom Aloyan, knowing that the maximum penalty for the charges against him is 30 years in prison.
“The Paris Assize Court has been convinced of the responsibility of Artyom Aloyan in the crime with which he is accused,” Chief Justice David Hale said when reading the verdict.
He added that it should be noted the terrorist nature of the organization Al Nosra Frontwhich is linked to Al-Qaeda and which has carried out extensive extremist actions manifested, among other things, by committing atrocities and attacks, particularly in the Iraqi-Syrian region.
The judge stressed that it was clear from the investigation and discussions that, contrary to what was alleged, Artyom Aloyan left France with the intention of going to Syria to knowingly join a terrorist group whose criminal activities were widely known.
The public defender had requested a “fair punishment” for the accused. “My job is not to ensure that (the accused) takes the maximum penalty, but to defend the public interest,” she said.
Alloyan, who was born in Armenia 33 years ago when it was still part of the Soviet Union, appeared in court on charges of “participation in a criminal network”.
This young man converted to Islam in 2012, which angered his Yazidi family, and he went to Turkey and then to Syria in 2015 without informing his relatives.
During the session, he admitted that he fought in the ranks of the Al-Nusra Front, denying that this organization is a terrorist.
