World · Middle East · 3 hrs ago
Iraq sentences three more French nationals to life for Islamic State ties
An Iraqi court sentenced three French nationals to life in prison on Thursday for belonging to Islamic State.
The sentences bring to 10 French citizens convicted in Iraq this week, after six received life terms and another was given 15 years on Tuesday.
The defendants were among 47 French suspects transferred from detention in north-eastern Syria to Iraq in July 2025.
Islamic State once controlled large areas of Iraq and Syria, but was driven from its self-declared territory in 2019; remnants of the group still operate.
Under Iraqi law, a life sentence is equivalent to 20 years and reviewed automatically within 30 days by the Court of Cassation.
The hearings were held in Baghdad, with defence lawyers and French embassy representatives present.
The court is continuing the mass trial of the transferred French suspects.
An Iraqi court sentenced three French nationals to life in prison on Thursday for joining Islamic State.
The Karkh Criminal Court in Baghdad sentenced Charly Sun, Kamal bin Mubarak and Amir Amine Dali Amar, according to reports.
The sentences bring to 10 the number of French nationals from a group of 47 transferred from Syria who have been sentenced.
Lawyers for some defendants have raised concerns about due process and the fairness of the trials.
- Who
- Three French nationals: Charly Sun, Kamal bin Mubarak and Amir Amine Dali Amar.
- What
- An Iraqi court sentenced them to life in prison for joining Islamic State. In Iraq, a life sentence is equivalent to 20 years in prison.
- When
- Thursday, October 29, 2026, according to the articles’ publication date and reported weekday.
- Where
- The Karkh Criminal Court in Baghdad, Iraq.
- Why
- They were convicted of joining Islamic State.
Defence lawyers for some defendants
Iraqi court
Fairness of trial
Defence lawyers for some defendants
Lawyers for some defendants said their clients were denied due process and convicted in unfair trials.
Iraqi court
The court convicted the three defendants of joining Islamic State; no response to the lawyers’ fairness concerns is reported.
Forty-seven French citizens were transferred from detention facilities in north-eastern Syria to Iraq.
An Iraqi court sentenced six French nationals from the group to life in prison and a seventh to 15 years.
The Karkh Criminal Court sentenced three more French nationals from the group to life in prison.
- Defendants
- Charly Sun, Kamal bin Mubarak and Amir Amine Dali Amar
- Court
- Karkh Criminal Court, Baghdad
- Sentence
- Life in prison, equivalent to 20 years under Iraqi law
- Group transferred
- 47 French citizens
- Sentenced so far
- 10 French nationals from the group
3 sources
What people are saying
The court found that the evidence is sufficient to convict you
The charge carries the death penalty, but because you are a young man at the beginning of your life, I have decided to give you a chance to reform yourself and change the course of your life.
I am remorseful
For eight years my mind was brainwashed; now everything is clear.