An Iraqi court has sentenced three French nationals to life imprisonment after convicting them of joining the Islamic State (IS) group. The verdicts add to a growing number of French citizens prosecuted in Iraq following their transfer from Syria.
The criminal court in Baghdad’s Karkh district sentenced Charly Sun, Kamal Ben Mbarek and Amir Amine Dali Amar on Thursday. Under Iraqi law, a life sentence in these cases amounts to 20 years in prison.
Three French Nationals Convicted of Joining IS
The court found the three defendants guilty of “the crime of joining the terrorist Islamic State organisation and of having contributed, together with members of the group, to spreading terror”.
The sentences follow similar rulings against other French nationals transferred from Syria. On Tuesday, Iraqi courts sentenced six more Frenchmen to life imprisonment, while another received a 15-year prison term.
So far, authorities have sentenced 10 members of a group of 47 French citizens transferred from Syria last year. The larger group also includes Adrien Guihal, who claimed responsibility for the 2016 Nice attack on behalf of IS.
Charly Sun’s Sister Also Received a Prison Sentence
The case has drawn additional attention because Charly Sun’s sister, Carole Sun, previously faced prosecution in France.
French authorities repatriated her from northeastern Syria, where she had joined the jihadist group alongside her brother in 2014. Both were teenagers at the time.
Last December, a French court sentenced Carole Sun to 10 years in prison.
Lawyers Raise Concerns Over Fair Trials
The convictions come amid growing pressure on Iraq’s judicial and prison systems as authorities handle increasing numbers of suspected IS members.
Iraqi prisons already hold suspected jihadists, including IS members. Moreover, thousands of additional detainees have recently arrived from neighbouring Syria.
However, French lawyers representing some defendants have questioned the fairness of the proceedings. They argue that their clients have faced trials without adequate due process.
These concerns have added to scrutiny surrounding the prosecution of foreign nationals transferred from Syria and their treatment under Iraq’s judicial system.
IS Legacy Continues to Haunt Iraq and Syria
IS expanded rapidly across Iraq and Syria in 2014, carrying out massacres and forcing women and girls into sexual slavery.
Iraq, supported by US-led forces, declared victory over the group in 2017. Meanwhile, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces defeated IS territorially in Syria in 2019.
Nevertheless, the group’s legacy continues to affect communities across both countries. Authorities continue discovering mass graves, while testimonies documenting IS atrocities still require investigation.
The latest convictions highlight Iraq’s continuing efforts to prosecute suspected members of the group, even as questions persist over detention conditions and judicial safeguards.
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