{
  "id": 12189970,
  "title": "'I was deceived': French ISIS recruit on trial in Iraq says he regrets joining group",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/i-was-deceived-french-isis-recruit-on-trial-in-iraq-says-he-regrets-12189970",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T16:14:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/05/i-was-deceived-french-isis-recruit-on-trial-in-iraq-says-he-regrets-joining-group/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mehdi Ismail Mohammed, a 33-year-old French citizen of Algerian and Tunisian origin, appeared before a court in Iraq on Monday, admitting to his alleged role in joining ISIS. He expressed regret for his decision, claiming he was deceived by a social media contact who promised to help Muslims in Syria during its civil war. Mohammed, one of 11 French citizens brought to Baghdad for trial, stated he initially believed he was joining the group for humanitarian reasons, but eventually agreed to participate in a non-combat role. After the US-led coalition tightened its offensive in 2016, he moved to Raqqa, where he worked as an accountant collecting Islamic taxes. However, in 2018, with the caliphate collapsing, he attempted to flee to Turkey with his two wives and four children to surrender to French or Algerian authorities. Instead, he was arrested by the SDF. Mohammed's lawyer, Abbas Al Kinani, requested an acquittal or leniency, arguing that he was deceived online and had committed no proven crimes on Iraqi soil. The judge set the verdict for October 27. The trials of the remaining nine defendants have been postponed until later this month. Iraq, which has no international tribunal, has become the courtroom for Europe's extremists, trying thousands of its own citizens under its anti-terrorism law, which carries the death penalty for belonging to a terrorist group.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "'I was deceived': French ISIS recruit on trial in Iraq says he regrets joining group",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/i-was-deceived-french-isis-recruit-on-trial-in-iraq-says-he-regrets",
        "published": "2026-10-05T16:14:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}