The young woman had made her own cloth bags with the IS logo on them. “She took them out to Praterstern wearing a full veil and was stopped by the police because of that,” the prosecutor reported.
The defendant, who confessed, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for terrorist association (§278b StGB) and criminal organization (§278a StGB). She accepted the sentence, the public prosecutor made no statement for the time being. The verdict is therefore not legally binding.
Relevant data
Table of Contents
- 1 Relevant data
- 2 “The traumatic event threw her off track”
- 3 Simultaneous trial against ex-boyfriend
- 4 “She wanted me to hang this up”
- 5 “She was strictly religious”
- 6 Here are some People Also Ask (PAA) related questions for the title: **Terrorism in Austria: A Growing Concern**
- 7 What measures is Austria implementing to combat the rise of terrorism and radicalization among its youth, specifically following recent incidents involving individuals like the 16-year-old girl associated with ISIS?
Table of Contents
When analyzing the defendant’s cell phone, investigators from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution came across a wealth of relevant files that demonstrated her radical religious views. Thematically, the young woman devoted herself primarily to jihad and martyrdom, using TikTok and WhatsApp to spread sermons by the German Salafist Denis Mamadou Gerhard Cuspert, an IS execution video, and a collection of nasheeds (battle chants) glorifying jihad. Although charges had already been brought against the woman, who had been registered as a job seeker with the AMS, she again acted as a propagandist for the terrorist militia from June 2024 until well into August, using two Telegram accounts for this purpose, according to the indictment. “She shared two videos related to jihad for everyone to see,” said the prosecutor.
Files of local IS bigwigs were also stored on the cell phone, including material from the hate preacher Mirsad O. alias Ebu Tejma, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the IS fighter Mohamed Mahmoud, who died in Syria and had himself filmed killing IS hostages, and the Vienna attacker who killed four people in the city center on November 2, 2020 in the name of IS before being shot dead by the police.
“The traumatic event threw her off track”
The defendant, who appeared at the trial wearing a headscarf and a veil that reached down to her waist, made a confession before a panel of lay judges. Her defense attorney emphasized that she came from “a traditional Austrian family,” was born in Lower Austria, and had no connection to Islam before she converted. One of the reasons for this may have been the abuse that the defendant suffered when she was twelve years old. “The traumatic event threw her off track. She turned to Islam, where you can cover yourself and protect yourself,” explained the defense attorney.
The legal representative also pointed out that the 16-year-old is intellectually under-gifted. She has an IQ of 65, attended a special school and is “easily influenced”. She had allowed herself to be led “by the wrong people”: “The question is how to get her out of the sect (meaning: the IS, ed.).” The defendant is now “only connected to her mother and MA 11” via WhatsApp.
“I was very naive,” the 16-year-old said in her interrogation. When asked how she came up with the idea of walking with a bag with the IS logo on it, she replied: “I thought nothing would happen anyway.”
Simultaneous trial against ex-boyfriend
At the same time, the regional court one floor up was hearing the case against the 16-year-old’s ex-boyfriend, who was also accused of being a terrorist group and criminal organization. The 19-year-old is said to have published IS propaganda material from 2022 onwards and even tried to persuade a Chechen acquaintance to travel with him to Syria to join IS there. In October 2023, he is said to have traveled to Frankfurt with his then girlfriend, where he met two acquaintances who subsequently made their way to Syria. The 19-year-old had originally had this in mind, the prosecutor emphasized: “But then he got scared and had his father pick him up.”
The room of the 19-year-old, who was registered with his father, was decorated with IS flags, the prosecutor said. The public prosecutor had previously had the young man examined by a psychiatrist, especially since he was “in early retirement” for psychological reasons, as the public prosecutor explained. The report showed that the defendant has a severe anxiety disorder, suffers from ADHD and has an IQ of 81. The expert classified the man as sane and therefore criminally responsible, but emphasized his reduced ability to make decisions.
“She wanted me to hang this up”
The 19-year-old pleaded “not guilty” and claimed that he had never had anything to do with IS. He had only wanted to please his ex-girlfriend. “She was my first girlfriend. She said that she had converted. I don’t know much about it. I wanted to impress her that I could have a relationship with her,” sobbed the 19-year-old. During his interrogation, he repeatedly burst into fits of tears: “She complimented me. I grew a beard because she thought it was appropriate. I felt flattered.” For her sake, he had also decorated his room with IS flags: “She wanted me to hang them up.”
The boy’s defense attorney claimed that the account used in the case, which was used to spread IS propaganda, was not used by his client. He had made it available to the 16-year-old. He did not travel to Frankfurt for religious-Islamist reasons. He wanted to visit friends there whom he had met through online gaming.
“She was strictly religious”
“She was strictly religious,” the defense attorney described the 19-year-old’s ex-girlfriend. During the relationship, he actually wanted to go out and dance in clubs. She did not allow that: “She said he should be more interested in religion.” He complied: “He did not want to lose his girlfriend.” It was “actually a love story that did not end well,” the attorney claimed.
After her own trial, the 16-year-old gave evidence as a witness under oath to tell the truth, exonerating her ex-boyfriend. She said she had written and shared posts that the defendant had blamed on him. The trial against the 19-year-old was then adjourned indefinitely so that another witness could be heard. The defendant was, however, released after three months in custody.
ePaper
Terrorism in Austria: A Growing Concern
Austria, known for its picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage, has been grappling with the threat of terrorism in recent years. The country has seen a rise in terrorist-related activities, with many individuals, including young women, being drawn to extremist ideologies.
The Case of the 16-Year-Old IS Sympathizer
In a recent trial, a 16-year-old girl was sentenced to 15 months in prison for terrorist
What measures is Austria implementing to combat the rise of terrorism and radicalization among its youth, specifically following recent incidents involving individuals like the 16-year-old girl associated with ISIS?
Terrorism in Austria: A Growing Concern
Austria has been facing a growing concern of terrorism in recent years, with several incidents and cases making headlines. In this article, we will delve into the recent case of a 16-year-old girl who was sentenced to 15 months in prison for terrorist association and criminal organization. We will also explore Austria’s commitment to combating terrorism and the country’s efforts to prevent radicalization.
The Case of the 16-Year-Old Girl
The 16-year-old girl, who was born in Lower Austria, was arrested for carrying a cloth bag with the IS logo on it in Praterstern, a popular tourist area in Vienna. She was stopped by the police and later confessed to the crime. The investigation revealed that she had been spreading terrorist propaganda on social media platforms, including TikTok and WhatsApp, and had been in contact with several IS bigwigs.
The court sentenced her to 15 months in prison for terrorist association (§278b StGB) and criminal organization (§278a StGB). Her defense attorney argued that she came from a traditional Austrian family and had no connection to Islam before she converted. The traumatic event of being abused at the age of 12 may have led her to seek solace in Islam, where she could cover herself and protect herself.
Austria’s Commitment to Combating Terrorism
Austria has been actively working to combat terrorism and prevent radicalization. According to the Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs, “Austria remains fully committed to the fight against terrorism, extremism, and radicalization and all international efforts to combat terrorist activities” [[3]]. The country has been working closely with international partners to share intelligence and best practices in combating terrorism.
In addition, Austria has taken measures to prevent radicalization, including implementing de-radicalization programs for individuals who have been radicalized. The country has also increased its efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, with the Austrian government stating that it is “strongly committed to ensuring that national authorities take actions to combat money laundering and terrorist financing” [[1]].
Terrorism in Austria: A Growing Concern
The case of the 16-year-old girl is not an isolated incident. Austria has seen a rise in terrorist incidents in recent years, with the country experiencing a significant number of terrorism-related incidents between 1972 and 2017 [[2]]. The Vienna attacker, who killed four people in the city center on November 2, 2020, in the name of IS before being shot dead by the police, is a stark reminder of the threat of terrorism in Austria.
Conclusion
The case of the 16-year-old girl highlights the growing concern of terrorism in Austria. While the country has made efforts to combat terrorism and prevent radicalization, more needs to be done to address the root causes of radicalization. It is essential for Austria to continue working closely with international partners to share intelligence and best practices in combating terrorism.
As Austria continues to face the threat of terrorism, it is crucial for the government to prioritize the prevention of radicalization and to provide support to individuals who have been radicalized. By doing so
