Incorrigible IS supporters in court again in Vienna

Since Monday, two young supporters of the radical Islamist terrorist militia “Islamic State” (IS) have had to stand trial at the Vienna regional court. They were only sentenced there this January and May this year to partial prison sentences for being a terrorist organization and a criminal organization after a lengthy period of pre-trial detention . At the end of January, the younger man received a prison sentence of 21 months, seven months of which were unconditional, because, among other things, he had worked as an IS propagandist at his school.

Detention had no effect

Taking into account his pre-trial detention, the 17-year-old was released on March 3rd – in order to build on the time before his imprisonment almost seamlessly. “You can see that the conviction did not stop him from continuing to work for IS,” said prosecutor Kristina Jahn. The 17-year-old teamed up with a teenager who was a year older than him and who also glorified IS. The 18-year-old has been under investigation by the public prosecutor’s office since 2022, he was in custody from July 2022 to January 2023, and on May 17th he was finally sentenced to 18 months in prison, six months of which were unconditional, for terrorist organization, criminal organization and damage to property , condemned.

Yesterday he openly admitted in court that he had shared IS propaganda material with his wife, who was married to him under Islamic law. A separate investigation is underway against the 18-year-old.

Two days after he was first convicted, the 18-year-old, according to the prosecution, tried out an air gun with his 17-year-old friend. The two had bought a total of three copies including ammunition in a shopping center on the Czech border. They met in the apartment of the 17-year-old’s wife – the two are also married according to Islamic law – in Favoriten and shot out the kitchen window. The 17-year-old targeted a man sitting on a park bench as he admitted: “I plead guilty to shooting.” The man was hit in the thigh but was not seriously injured. Regardless of this, the public prosecutor’s office charges the two defendants with not only being a terrorist organization, but also attempted grievous bodily harm and violations of the Weapons Act.

“Would you say that weapons have a fascination for you?” a female lay judge asked the older defendant. He answered the question in the affirmative. He was “interested in this since he was a child.” The 18-year-old assured that he had turned away from IS and radical ideas. The de-radicalization center “told him that I have improved very, very much.”

Verdicts expected today

The 17-year-old, who like his partner has been in judicial custody again since mid-May, pleaded guilty to all charges. The 17-year-old is again being looked after by the de-radicalization center in order to dissuade him from his radical Islamist views. When the presiding judge asked what he thought of IS, the boy said: “I don’t even bother with these things anymore.”

The hearing continues today, Tuesday. Verdicts are due to be handed down in the afternoon.

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