St. Pölten: Ex-prisoner should convert young people to radical Islam
St. Pölten: Ex-prisoner should convert young people to radical Islam
A remarkable case is currently being negotiated at the St. Pölten Regional Court, which repeatedly draws public attention to terrorism. A 20-year-old North Macedonian, who was only released from custody a few weeks ago, is again facing severe allegations. Despite his supposed deradicalization, which was considered successful after discussions with supervisors, he is accused of influencing young people on the ideology of radical Islam.
The accused, whose external appearance has changed since his last process, was sentenced to two years in prison in August 2023 for terrorist association. Of these were 16 months. After his release in October, there was initially hope that he had changed. But just a few weeks later, indications indicated that he continued to act as an ideological guide for young people.
influence on young people
Investigators of the case report that the accused gathered several boys aged 14 and 15. These seemed to perceive him as a mentoring figure. In a recent process, two of these boys came to court as witnesses. Judge Doris Wais-Pfeffer put them on the tooth: "Are you afraid of him? Do you want to protect him?" However, the boys' answers were inconsistent, which caused the judge to drill deeper.
Originally, the young people of the police had testified that the accused wanted to try to win for IS and Hamas. Nevertheless, they now said that he only advised them to stay away from these groups. This highlights the ambivalence and pressure under which these young witnesses are.
It is also important that the accused is said to have asked the young people to carry their pants over the ankles, which is interpreted as a sign of radical Islamic faith. This indicates that he actively tries to spread his ideology and views by even influencing the clothes of his supporters. Such clothing signs contribute to the visibility of the radical identity.Despite his denial attitude and the claims that it was harmless group dynamics, the indications of his radical agenda remained unmistakable. The accused, who drew attention to himself after his first conviction with graffiti, continues to endeavor.
his defense lawyer tried to present the testimony of the witnesses as contradictory in order to put the behavior of his client into perspective. Nevertheless, the lay judge remained skeptical and considered the representations of the accused to be unbelievable. Despite the possible punishment for up to ten years, he was convicted at the age of five.
How the events will continue and whether new topics come to the surface in the fight against terrorism. This case illustrates the challenge with which authorities are faced with when it comes to protecting a group of young people from influencing radical ideologies. A detailed view of the topic can be found in a detailed report www.meinbezirk.at .
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