Kosovo imam, six others convicted in Pristina for aiding Islamic State militants
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 20 May 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kosovo imam, six others convicted in Pristina for aiding Islamic State militants, 20 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5769013a15.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Comments | All reference to Kosovo should be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
May 20, 2016
A Kosovo court announced on May 20 that it has sentenced seven men to prison terms of up to 10 years after finding them guilty of being part of the so-called Islamic State (IS) extremist group.
The main defendant, Imam Zekeria Qazimi, was jailed for 10 years for recruiting young Kosovars to go and fight in Syria for the IS.
Qazimi had been the imam at the El-Kuddus mosque in Gjilan when he was arrested in August 2014.
Evidence leading to his conviction included a video from 2013 in which Qazimi said: "The blood of infidels is the best drink for us."
The court in Pristina said on May 20 that five others were found guilty of "fighting with the terrorist organization" after travelling from Pristina to Turkey and then on to Syria.
The seventh man was found guilty of recruiting fighters for IS and fighting in Syria.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
