6 hours agoA Kosovar in Switzerland charged with leading a jihadist group
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)The Federal Prosecutor's Office in Switzerland has filed charges against a Kosovo citizen under suspicion of having been the leader of the Swiss branch of a terrorist organisation from Kosovo. Known as “emir”, he is suspected to have been active even in the leadership of this organisation. The accused allegedly carried out various activities on purpose [...]
Known as “emir”, he is suspected to have been active even in the leadership of this organisation.
The accused allegedly carried out various activities aimed at indoctrinating, financing and recruiting new members on behalf of the terrorist organisation, mainly with focus in the Geneva region. This is allegedly carried out with the help of another person with Swiss and Macedonian dual citizenship, against whom the indictment has also been filed.
According to this prosecutor's announcement, the accused are allegedly engaged in propagandistic activities for the ideology of the terrorist organisation “Islamic State”, through regular meetings.
Kosovo's 36-year-old citizen, and 33-year-old Swiss-Macedonian citizenship, had been arrested on September 1st 2022. The investigations were conducted from July 2021.
As written in the Swiss authorities' announcement, the terrorist organisation at the centre of the indictment was established after Kosovo authorities had eliminated the “Council” in 2014 and 2015. According to the indictment, the purpose of the organisation has been to promote as many believers as possible for its cause and the salafist-jahadite ideology, identical to that of the Islamic State.
It says that in 2014-2015, some Albanian - speaking men, including the two accused, had joined forces to form the group. Kosovo citizen was elected “emir” of the Geneva branch.
Since 2016, the Geneva branch has been focused on funding the organisation at a rate of 64 thousand to 77 thousand euros. Kosovo's citizen allegedly collected money from members in Geneva and then transferred it to Kosovo through various activities. The accused are also suspected of bribeing to avoid prosecution, reports Koha.net, Periscope.
