Since 2012, the Furkan Mosque in Graz has been considered a terror center in Austria, as well as in neighboring countries. The prosecution explains how the Islamic State was recruited, radicalized and sent to war there. In most cases, however, the jury decides against these charges.
With 14 accused, 19 scheduled days of hearings and a 400-page file, the trial around the Furkan Mosque in Graz began on September 9 in the Vienna Regional Court. Now it rained sentences for the accused IS sympathizers – but above all acquittals. Nine defendants rejoiced: the jury found them not guilty of involvement in a terrorist organization and a criminal organization, terrorist financing and anti-state connections.
Three illegal convictions
Three of the men and women were convicted on marginal aspects. One defendant – who has five previous convictions – has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for terrorist financing. He made donations to IS. An innocent man was sentenced to one year’s probation for the same charge. A young woman who wanted to marry an IS fighter and go to Syria faces a nine-month suspended sentence. Much to the dismay of the prosecutor, they did not release a statement. Thus, neither the guilt nor the acquittals are final.
Two suspects eliminated
However, on the day of the verdict in the terror trial surrounding the mosque, only 12 of the suspects were guilty. The case against two men has already been eliminated in the course of the trial, which lasted several weeks. There must be a psychiatric report – one of the two is said to be suffering from schizophrenia.
Little approval from the jury
In the radical Islamic mosque, the suspect supported the terrorist organization in all kinds of ways. The aim was to send as many young people as possible to Syria as IS fighters. They should go to jihad. The prosecution’s charges did not hold up to the jury.
While the investigations were originally conducted by the Graz Public Prosecutor’s Office, the trial took place at the Vienna Regional Criminal Court. Facebook posts were instrumental in the charge. That makes it a media content crime, the Supreme Court ruled. So negotiations had to take place in Vienna.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
