Jasmin Keserović Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Fighting in Syria

(Patria) - The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina sentenced Jasmin Keserović to six years in prison for joining foreign formations in Syria and publicly inciting terrorist activities.

He was found guilty of traveling to Syria in January 2013, where he fought on the side of ISIL and participated in terrorist activities under the name Abu Muhamed Al Bosni.

The panel also convicted Keserović on the second count of the indictment, for a call to murder published online in 2016.

For the first count, Keserović received three years, and for publicly inciting terrorist activities, five years, resulting in a unified sentence of six years in prison.

A message was cited in which Keserović calls on Muslims to kill Christians and their servants, to make no distinction between soldiers and civilians, and to use the means at their disposal, reports detektor.ba.

Presiding Judge of the Trial Chamber Džemila Begović said that it is particularly concerning that the accused in his speech called for the killing of not only soldiers but also civilians.

“One could understand a soldier going after a soldier, but by calling for the killing of civilians at every turn, extreme recklessness was demonstrated,” Begović said.

She stated that the Chamber could not accept the Defense's argument that Keserović went to Syria for noble purposes, to help the people.

The judge expressed hope that the imposed sentence will be sufficient for Keserović to carefully consider relations among people and change his radical views.

Begović noted that the accused is a young man and that he will find the strength to reflect on the consequences he caused, and to channel his energy in a positive direction.

Keserović is one of seven BiH citizens extradited from Syria in December 2019 on suspicion of having fought there on the side of organizations designated as terrorist by the United Nations (UN).

An appeal against the first-instance verdict is possible to the Appellate Chamber of the Court of BiH, and Keserović's detention, in which he has been since his extradition, has been extended.