French Jihadist Mehdi Nemmouche Sentenced to Life for IS Hostage-Taking

Nemmouche was convicted for holding four French journalists captive in Syria between 2013 and 2014, receiving a life sentence with a minimum of 22 years without parole.

• Mehdi Nemmouche, already serving a life sentence in Belgium for a 2014 attack, was convicted in France for his role as an IS jailer of four journalists in Syria.
• The journalists testified that they recognized Nemmouche's voice and mannerisms as those of their captor, known as Abu Omar, who subjected them to torture and mock executions.
• Nemmouche denied being their jailer but admitted to being an IS fighter, stating in court that he would never apologize for being a terrorist.
• Prosecutors also secured sentences for other jihadists involved, including life terms for Oussama Atar and Salim Benghalem, both presumed dead.
• The trial highlights the challenges of prosecuting transnational terrorism and the enduring trauma faced by victims of IS captivity.

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