Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has filed an indictment against three committee members of the Islamic Central Council of Switzerland (ICCS)

Bern, 21.09.2017 - The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has filed an indictment in the Federal Criminal Court against three committee members of the Islamic Central Council of Switzerland (ICCS). The OAG alleges that the accused committed offences under the Federal Act on the Proscription of Al-Qaeda, Islamic State and Associated Organisations.

The specific allegation against the head of the “culture production department” at the ICCS is that between the end of September 2015 and mid-October 2015 he made films in Syria with a leading member of the proscribed terrorist organisation al-Qaeda in Syria. The films were subsequently used as propaganda for the al-Qaeda member concerned. Two videos were published on the internet platform YouTube, both of which were endorsed by the head of the “public relations and information department” at the ICCS and actively promoted via social media and at a public event by all three accused, i.e. by the committee members mentioned and by the ICCS president.

The OAG alleges that the accused offered the leading al-Qaeda member in question a prominent multilingual multimedia platform from which to advantageously portray and promote both himself and the ideology of al-Qaeda, the terrorist organisation he represents. The OAG claims to have proof that this increased the appeal of the proscribed terrorist organisation al-Qaeda to existing and potential members around the world, thus promoting the organisation’s criminal activities.

The present indictment documents the strict prosecution brought against all persons in Switzerland who attempt to take part in jihad-motivated terrorism, or who support this by means of propaganda. Currently the OAG is conducting, with the support of fedpol, around 60 criminal proceedings as part of a series of prosecutions related to jihadist-motivated terrorism. The majority of these cases relate to propaganda in support of terrorist organisations.

The OAG will submit its proposals for sentencing at the main hearing before the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona. The accused are presumed innocent until found guilty by the court in a legally binding judgment. As an indictment has been filed, the Federal Criminal Court is now responsible for providing further information. 


Address for enquiries

André Marty, Head of Information at the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland; +41 58 464 32 40; info@ba.admin.ch


Publisher

Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland
http://www.ba.admin.ch/

https://www.admin.ch/content/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-68176.html