Jena, July 29, 2026: The trial of a 66-year-old man accused of membership in the ‘Islamic State’ (IS) terrorist militia has begun at the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Jena. While the Public Prosecutor General accuses the defendant of producing propaganda videos, the defendant describes a history of extortion.
- Location: Higher Regional Court (OLG) Jena
- Trial start date: July 29, 2026
- Defendant: 66-year-old former editor from Nordhausen (born in Mosul/Iraq)
- Charge: Membership in the IS, production of propaganda videos, participation in combat operations
- Defense: Coercion and duress through threats of violence against his family
Propaganda allegations by the Public Prosecutor General
Before the State Security Senate at the OLG Jena, Senior Public Prosecutor Martin Gottschalk read out the indictment, which charges the man, born in Mosul, Iraq, with serious crimes. The defendant, who most recently lived in Nordhausen and is currently in pre-trial detention, is alleged to have voluntarily joined the IS in 2014.
A central piece of evidence for the prosecution is a propaganda video of the terrorist militia. In it, the 66-year-old can be seen armed. According to the prosecution, the recording conveys the impression that the defendant fully identified with the jihadist ideology, both externally and internally, and acted as a fighter. The proceedings at the OLG Jena had already attracted attention in advance.
Defense: From journalist to coerced instructor
In a detailed statement before the court, the defendant described his version of events. Before the IS took power in Mosul, he had worked as a professional editor for a magazine. After the terrorists invaded, several of his journalist colleagues were executed.
The 66-year-old stated that his wife had been arrested and tortured by the IS. The militia had threatened to kill his children if he did not surrender within a week. To save his family’s life, he eventually surrendered. After multiple interrogations and a threatened execution, he was given an ultimatum to provide journalistic training to IS members. He claimed to have trained 28 people over a period of two months under massive pressure. The trial is ongoing.
Background: State security proceedings at the Thuringian Higher Regional Court
The Higher Regional Court Jena is the highest state court in Thuringia responsible for state security offenses. Proceedings involving alleged members or supporters of foreign terrorist organizations require special security measures. In such trials, investigative authorities often face the challenge of legally processing events from foreign crisis regions and evaluating the distinction between voluntary perpetration and forced collaboration.
Source:
Defendant: Forced to work for terrorist militia
Transparency notice: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.