The Netherlands - The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has summoned ten men who are suspected of participating in the armed ISIS combat to appear at a court hearing of the Court of Rotterdam.
To the best of our knowledge the suspects have no fixed abode in the Netherlands and they are residing in the jihadist combat zone in Syria or Iraq. The court session will be held on 23 March 2017.
The National Public Prosecutors’ Office wants the cases to be heard in default, should the suspects not appear. They can however be represented by counsel. On the coming court hearing the cases will not yet be handled substantively. It is a so-called pretrial hearing, in which possible requirements for a further investigation will be discussed.
Because the summons could not be issued on the suspects, these have been served at the court registry. Besides, the Public Prosecution Service has tried to reach them through social media, such as Twitter and Facebook. The pending court session has also been brought to attention in the combat zone through a targeted action on Facebook.
The ten men are being summoned on account of participating in a terrorist organization and the preparation of terrorist crimes.
It concerns:
Thierry K. (29) from Zoetermeer
Victor D. (29) from Raalte
Jihad S. (28) from Arnhem
Yago R. (24) from Arnhem
Marouane B. (22) from Arnhem
Khalid B. (31) from Velp
Jeroen van D. (27) Almere
Khalid B. (24) Vlaardingen
Adil B. (26) from Rotterdam
Ridvan O. (21) from Utrecht
Rule of law
From these people it is known that they have left the country to participate in the ISIS armed fight. The Public Prosecution Service doesn’t want to wait with their trial until they return to the Netherlands. The Public Prosecution Service also wants to make it clear that the constitutional state has not taken leave from the Syria or Iraq volunteers. The rule of law applies to them whether they want it or not.
Besides, risks with possible returnees from the combat zone will be reduced once they have been sentenced. Upon their return, they can then immediately be arrested to serve their imposed penalty.
