Islamic State sisters on trial in Norway
Dark sign in the desert with the words Islamic State in white letters.
Credit: Shutterstock, Michael Wick
‘We were too young!’ Sisters plead for mercy after IS terror trial in Norway.
Two sisters who left Norway to join the terror group IS in Syria have concluded their controversial trial in Oslo, where their defence has portrayed them as victims of circumstance and youthful naivety.
The siblings, who grew up in a Somali refugee family that was welcomed into Norway, shocked the nation 11 years ago when they abandoned their Oslo lives at the tender ages of 19 and 16 to join the so-called Islamic State. Now, after years in custody and a seven-week trial, they claim they were ‘too young and vulnerable’ to understand the consequences of their actions.
From schoolgirls to terror brides
In court, the sisters admitted to marrying IS fighters and having children during their time with the group. Prosecutors argued they were active participants in Islamic State activities, including attempts to recruit friends back in Norway and even setting up a women’s training camp in Syria.
While the sisters claim they only wanted to ‘help Muslims’ and were forced to marry fighters for safety, prosecutors described them as unwavering supporters of the extremist group.
The courtroom was also shown harrowing testimonies alleging that the two sisters punished women who defied the Islamic State’s strict laws. The defence hit back, insisting the sisters merely did what they could to survive, with one lawyer passionately declaring, “It must be allowed to try to survive.”
A taxpayer-funded rescue
After IS collapsed, the pair spent years in a refugee camp notorious for housing women who upheld the group’s brutal ideology. Norway eventually brought them back to Norway at the taxpayers’ expense, placing their children in foster care and arresting the women on terrorism charges.
Since their return, the sisters have argued that their only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They insist they wanted to leave IS but were trapped and unable to escape.
The final verdict looms.
If convicted, the older sister faces four years behind bars, while the younger could serve two. The court is expected to deliver its verdict in late January 2025.
This case has sparked fierce debate across Norway, with critics questioning why taxpayers should foot the bill for bringing back alleged terrorists, while others argue the sisters deserve a second chance.
What do you think? Misguided teens or calculating extremists? Let us know your thoughts.
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