'I was deceived': French ISIS recruit on trial in Iraq says he regrets joining group
A French man admitted on Monday in a court in Iraq to joining ISIS after claiming that he was lured on social media into helping Muslims in Syria during its gruelling civil war. He pleaded for mercy. Mehdi Ismail Mohammed, 33, is one of 11 French citizens of Algerian and Tunisian origin brought before a judge in Baghdad. They are accused of joining ISIS during its rule over much of Iraq and Syria…
Mehdi Ismail Mohammed, a 33-year-old French citizen of Algerian and Tunisian origin, pleaded guilty in an Iraqi court to joining ISIS after claiming he was deceived on social media into supporting Muslims in Syria during its civil war. Mohammed is one of 11 French nationals, along with 36 others, being tried in Baghdad for their alleged membership in ISIS during its rule over Iraq and Syria from mid-2014 to 2017 and 2019.
The cases of these 47 French fighters were handed over to Iraq last year by the Syrian Democratic Forces, who had detained them in prisons and camps since the group's defeat.
The trials, which began last month, highlight Europe's ongoing struggle in dealing with its ISIS fighters years after their defeat. Since there is no international tribunal to handle their cases, and European countries are hesitant to take them back, Iraq has assumed the role of Europe's courtroom for its extremists. Mohammed, who appeared before the court for the second time, expressed his regret for joining ISIS, initially driven by a desire to help Syrians.
However, he claimed he never intended to become a member of the group and worked in a non-combat capacity, teaching religious classes and leading prayers in Manbij, Syria.
Legal counsel Abbas Al Kinani requested leniency for Mohammed, arguing that he was deceived online and never directly participated in ISIS-affiliated activities on Iraqi soil. The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on October 27, while the other 10 defendants' trials have been postponed until later in the month. All 11 defendants face the same charge of belonging to ISIS and participating in terrorist acts that threaten public peace and security.
Iraq has prosecuted thousands of its own citizens for ISIS membership under its anti-terrorism law, which carries the death penalty for membership in a terrorist group. Foreign nationals have also been subjected to the same treatment, a policy that has drawn criticism from human rights groups. Baghdad defends the approach as a matter of sovereignty and deterrence.
Additionally, Iraq is preparing to try 5,704 ISIS prisoners who were transferred from Syria this year, comprising 67 nationalities.
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