(AFP) A notorious Iraqi preacher said to be the Islamic State jihadist group’s de facto leader in Germany was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison by a German court on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah Abdullah, better known as Abu Walaa, helped radicalise young people in Europe and helped them travel to Iraq and Syria, the court found.
He was found guilty of belonging to a foreign terrorist organisation, helping to plan subversive violent acts and financing terrorism.
Handing down the verdict after 245 days of hearings, judge Frank Rosenow said Abu Walaa was “authorised to act in the name of IS” and was used by the jihadist group as its “representative in Germany” for propaganda and recruitment.
(Text updated)
