Austria: Alleged ISIS Fighter on Trial in Vienna

A 27-year-old Chechen, residing in Austria, is on trial in Vienna, accused of having traveled to Syria in 2014 to fight for ISIS. The below article from the Austrian newspaper, Krone, is translated by Fousesquawk. 

 https://www.krone.at/3257937

Terror trial in Vienna

27-year-old denies Syria stay before court

Court: February 19, 20245 15:05

Caption: At the terror trial in Vienna against the young Chechen, there is great media interest and even greater security measures.

A young ISIS sympathizer reportedly traveled to Syria in 2014, at the age of 18, and there joined the terror organization as a fighter. That is supported by a revealed data sheet. But for a conviction, the document is not sufficient. 

An unusual crowd of prison guards line Courtroom 11 in the Vienna Regional Court. That is noticed even by the judge. “Are you that dangerous? Obviously, yes when I look at what has been mustered here,” she says at the beginning of the trial to the 27-year-old defendant-who is brought in with foot shackles and handcuffs attached to a waist-belt.

Prison guard attacked with butter knife

Justifiably, since the young man has a considerable criminal record. “You have been rather continuously in custody for 14 years,” the president judge summarizes. Most recently, he had to appear before a jury in Krems for the attempted murder of an officer in the Stein Prison. With the cry, “Allahu akhbar” he went at the guard with a sharpened butter knife, aimed at the neck. In July 2022, he was finally sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for deliberate, serious bodily injury.

“But he had previously sworn to ISIS to support them from Austria”

- State prosecutor (referring to) the defendant (27)

(Did he) travel to Syria as an ISIS fighter?

The accusation, now being (litigated) in Vienna, allegedly occurred before the prison sentence against the Chechen. In the summer of 2014, the defendant allegedly traveled to Syria (and)  joined ISIS there. That is supported by a datasheet of the terror organization, in which a similar name with the same date of birth appears. There, he affixed a cross with the function, “fighter”. 

On the appeal of the parents, the 27-year-old reportedly returned to Austria after two weeks. ISIS propaganda and torture videos were also found on the defendant. “He had also previously promised ISIS he would support them from Austria, according to the State prosecutor.

Insert: Section 278b Penal Code; Terrorist Organization

(1) Whoever leads a terrorist organization is subject to imprisonment from 5-15 years.

(2) Whoever participates as a member of a terrorist organization is subject to imprisonment from 1-10 years.

(3) A terrorist organization is a long-term association of more than two persons, set up so that one or more members of this organization would carry out one or more terrorist crimes or conduct terrorist financing. 

27-year-old Chechen was only visiting his girlfriend

Completely far-fetched, the defense attorney, Florian Kreiner, maintains. “My client crossed the Bulgarian border on June 9, 2014, and the Turkish (border) on June 10. That is the only thing that we objectively know”. He was visiting a girlfriend in Istanbul, the defendant himself says-without luggage, without informing his parents. And he doesn’t know the last name of the girlfriend in question.

Nevertheless, Attorney Kreiner criticizes: “I have done many terror trials. There has never been so little evidentiary material,” And the evidence is not sufficient for a jury. In case of doubt, the 27-year-old will not be legally acquitted. 

-Sophie Pratschner