World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Iraqi court sentences seven French nationals over Islamic State membership
An Iraqi court convicted seven French nationals of joining the Islamic State group on Tuesday in Baghdad.
They were among 47 French suspects transferred from detention in Syria to Iraq last year.
The group seized territory in Iraq and Syria in 2014, and although it later lost control of that land, it still has active cells.
Two accounts say six men received life sentences and one received 15 years, while another says the six were given 20-year terms.
The convictions are among the first in the trial of the 47 French suspects, as Iraq prosecutes foreign nationals accused of joining the group.
A lawyer said the men would appeal, and another account says verdicts can be challenged within 30 days.
It is not clear whether the convicted men will later be returned to France to serve their sentences.
An Iraqi court sentenced seven French nationals convicted of Islamic State membership on Tuesday.
Reports differ on the terms for six defendants: AP, Reuters and France 24 say they received life sentences, while The National reports 20-year terms.
All four reports say the seventh defendant was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The defendants were among 47 French citizens transferred from detention in Syria to Iraq last year.
A lawyer for the defendants said they would appeal, according to Reuters.
- Who
- Seven French nationals accused of Islamic State ties.
- What
- An Iraqi court convicted them of membership in the group and sentenced them to prison. Reports differ on whether six received life sentences or 20-year terms; the seventh received 15 years.
- When
- Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
- Where
- Baghdad, Iraq.
- Why
- The court convicted them of Islamic State membership and terrorism-related charges. The judge said the charges involved joining the group and spreading fear.
The Iraqi court
The defendants
Evidence and conviction
The Iraqi court
The court found the evidence sufficient to convict the defendants, according to The National.
The defendants
Mehdi Mohammed said he did not intend to join the Islamic State and had been deceived, according to The National.
Sentencing
The Iraqi court
The judge said the charge carried the death penalty but gave the defendants a chance to reform, according to The National.
The defendants
A lawyer for the defendants said the group would appeal, according to Reuters.
Trials of the French nationals began in Baghdad, according to The National.
Mehdi Mohammed appeared at a hearing and said he had been lured to join the Islamic State, according to The National.
The court issued verdicts for seven French nationals.
- Defendants sentenced
- 7 French nationals
- French suspects transferred from Syria
- 47
- Seventh defendant's sentence
- 15 years
- Six other defendants' sentences
- Life imprisonment according to AP, Reuters and France 24; 20 years according to The National
- Appeal period
- 30 days, according to The National
4 sources
What people are saying
The court found that the evidence is sufficient to convict you,
It was never my intention to join the Islamic State. I was convinced that we, as Muslims, should help the Syrians. I was deceived.
highly dangerous due to their role in threatening Iraq’s national security, destabilizing Iraq and Syria, and their involvement in inciting terrorist operations in other countries