Jena, 29.07.2026: The trial of a 66-year-old Iraqi man accused of membership in the terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS) has begun at the Thuringian Higher Regional Court in Jena.
- Location: Thüringer Oberlandesgericht Jena
- Defendant: 66-year-old man from Nordhausen (native of Mosul)
- Prosecution’s charges: IS propaganda, service in the IS police, and combat activities
- Defense position: Statement citing threats of torture and duress
- Status: In custody since December 2025
Serious charges by the Office of the Public Prosecutor General
According to the indictment by the Office of the Public Prosecutor General, the accused joined the IS terrorist militia in 2014 following the capture of Mosul. Investigators accuse the trained journalist of initially performing propaganda and media work for the jihadists. Later, he allegedly served as an armed fighter and as a member of the so-called Islamic police, for which he reportedly received a regular salary.
A central piece of evidence for the prosecution is a propaganda video showing the 66-year-old armed. According to the prosecution, the recording conveys the image of a fighter who fully identified with the goals of the IS. In 2017, the man left Iraq and entered Germany, where he most recently lived in Nordhausen. He was arrested at the end of 2025.
Defendant describes threats and duress
In a personal statement before the OLG Jena, the defendant painted a completely different picture of the events. Before the IS took power, he had worked as an editor for a local magazine. After the invasion of the terrorist militia, several of his colleagues were executed.
He claimed he only surrendered to the jihadists after his wife had been arrested and tortured. The authorities had threatened to kill his children if he did not surrender within a week. After several interrogations and under threat of the death penalty, he was forced to train IS members in the field of journalism. He subsequently trained 28 people over a period of about two months. All actions were taken solely to save his family’s life. Further information on legal proceedings can be found in our Blaulicht section.
Background: The State Security Senate at the OLG Jena
The Thuringian Higher Regional Court in Jena is the only court in the Free State of Thuringia responsible for state security proceedings. It serves as the court of first instance for serious crimes against the internal and external security of the state, which includes membership in or support for foreign terrorist organizational structures. The state security senates rule on behalf of the Federal Court of Justice.
Source:
Trial against alleged IS member begins in Jena
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