Authors of a book on French women who joined ISIS, they were tried for having transferred funds, in particular in order to pay smugglers to “exfiltrate” several women from Syria or Iraq.
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Two journalists received death threats after being convicted by the Paris court for having transferred funds to members of the Islamic State (IS) group, announced the Association of the Judicial Press (APJ), Wednesday March 27 , in a press release. The organization, which brings together journalists specializing in justice issues, said it was learning “with dismay that two journalists, Edith B. and Céline M., are the subject of insults and death threats on social networks”.
Edith B. and Céline M. were sentenced on Friday to 10 and 12 months of suspended imprisonment respectively. Authors of an investigative book on French women who joined ISIS, they were tried for having transferred funds in order to pay smugglers for “exfiltrate” several women from Syria or Iraq, and for having taken part in the failed rescue operation of French jihadist Maximilien Thibaut.
In court, the two journalists admitted to being “out of the box” of their profession, but had maintained that they had acted through “humanity”, For “save lives”. On Friday, both said “shocked by the severity of a judgment that they do not understand” and shared the “feeling of not having been heard”. They affirmed “never having financed terrorism”, that they fight “every day in their profession”, and announced that they would appeal the decision.
Three years suspended for a former lawyer
The heaviest sentence, three years’ imprisonment with a simple suspended sentence, targets former lawyer Bruno V., 50 years old. The public prosecutor had requested five years of imprisonment in January.
Bruno V. admitted to having participated in the corruption of an Iraqi army officer to try, in vain, to spare the life of Maximilien Thibaut during the battle of Mosul, in Iraq, in 2017, according to him so that ‘he surrenders. The ex-lawyer admits corruption, but rejects accusations of financing terrorism.
The court partially acquitted him on this point, in particular on his messages exchanged with clients, jihadist women held in a camp in Syria. He sentenced him to a joint customs fine of 10,000 euros, a fine requested by customs and to be paid with the two accused journalists.