Belgium: Man (19) Charged with Supporting ISIS Online

Prosecutors in Belgium have requested a sentence of 50 months in prison for a young man (19) charged with supporting ISIS online and inciting others to commit terrorist acts in Belgium and France.

The below article from the French-language daily, 7 sur 7 is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.7sur7.be/faits-divers/il-faisait-lapologie-de-letat-islamique-50-mois-de-prison-requis-pour-une-activite-terroriste-en-tant-que-dirigeant~a41ad1ff/

“He was advocating for the Islamic State”: 50 months in prison  demanded for terrorist activity as leader

Monday afternoon, before the 6th chamber of the Charleroi Criminal Tribunal, the federal prosecutor’s office requested a sentence of 50 months in prison without opposing a probationary suspension for Alimcham M. The defendant, born in 2004, is charged for three offenses related to terrorism as a leader. He is contesting having played the role of leader. 

Staff 9-25-23, 19:12. Last update 19:42 Source: Belga

On November 12, 2020, Federal Judicial Police in Charleroi (PJF) were alerted by French authorities to the opening of a case following the report  of an Instagram account making propaganda for terrorism and notably posting messages of support for the attack perpetrated against Samuel Paty* on October 16, 2020 in France. This account belongs to a mother of three children. Alimcham M., one of the sons, aged 16 at the time, is the user of this account. He was arrested and placed in IPPJ (Wallonia youth facility)  on February 11, 2021.

“Support for the Islamic State”

The seizure of  computer material belonging to the family illustrates the terrorist activities of the defendant. “There are thousands of video files, photos, and even messages. He supports the Islamic State and incites people to commit terrorist attacks. The radicalization of the defendant is at an advanced stage,” noted the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. The young man contests having participated in the activities of a terrorist group as leader. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, he tried to recruit young candidates at ages of less than 16 for a terrorist project abroad  or to attack police or civilians in France or Belgium with a Kalashnikov.

A sentence of 50 months in prison was demanded for the defendant, without opposing a probationary suspension. The defense has requested simple probation.

A verdict is expected October 23.

* Samuel Paty was a French schoolteacher who was beheaded by a Muslim man after he showed images of the Prophet Mohammad in his class.