Today, the Court of Appeal in The Hague acquitted a Syrian defendant of directing and participating in the Ahrar al-Sham militant group. In first instance, the prosecution demanded 12 years in prison. The Rotterdam District Court sentenced the defendant to 36 months in prison, 12 months of which were suspended, for membership in Ahrar al-Sham.
The Court of Appeal in The Hague today overturned the court's verdict. Among other things, the Court considered that the humanitarian aid provided by the defendant in Syria did not contain an (intentional) link to Ahrar al-Sham. There is insufficient evidence that the defendant participated in a terrorist organisation.
The defendant was represented in the appeal case by Ms Frederieke Dölle.