DEN HAAG - The Supreme Court upholds the conviction of jihadist Omar H.. The court sentenced the Syrian in 2015 to 15 months in prison for participating in training for a terrorist crime. Whether H. is currently still alive, his counsel leaves it open.
According to the Supreme Court, the court gave sufficient reasons why he was convicted in connection with training for terrorism. The concept of training, such as the acquisition or transfer of knowledge and skills, must be interpreted broadly here, according to the Supreme Court.
For example, the court declared proven that Omar H., from Amsterdam, had bought raw materials for an explosive, with which he intended to commit a terrorist crime. He had looked up information about this on the internet. He also had ignition materials at home.
There is much uncertainty about whether H. is still alive and his whereabouts. Fighters of IS confirmed reports last year that he was killed in northern Syria during fighting with fighters of the Kurdish PKK. His counsel Serge Weening says he does not want to make any statements about that.
