A student who had created a discussion group on Telegram messaging with the aim, according to him, of carrying out "
an ethnography of the Islamic State and radical Islam
" was sentenced Friday to two years in prison suspended by the Special Assize Court of Paris.
After more than five hours of deliberation, the 26-year-old doctoral student in anthropology was found guilty of terrorist association.
The Advocate General had requested a two-year suspended prison sentence against him.
Placed under judicial supervision since his indictment in September 2016, the young man, without a criminal record, appeared free in court.
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Originally from Douarnenez (Finistère), the young man, presented as suffering from “
bipolar disorders
” by his lawyers, had created in July 2016, under the pseudonym of Abu Jaafar, a discussion group on encrypted messaging Telegram in order, a- he explained, to achieve "
an immersion
" in the heart of jihadist networks.
Without religion, he intended, according to his lawyers, to conduct research on jihadism.
The Advocate General questioned this “
scientific study
”, qualifying the young man as a “
sorcerer's apprentice
” seeking the thrill of adventure.
The student, who follows a course specializing in prehistory, had not informed his university of his "
research
" and left no note on his possible work.
His discussion group aggregated "
individuals more dangerous than each other
", noted the attorney general.
Among its members was the jihadist Rachid Kassim for a time presented as "
public enemy number 1
" of France.
Presumed instigator of the attacks of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray (Seine-Maritime) and Magnanville (Yvelines), Rachid Kassim, probably died in Iraq in February 2017, was considered to be the French recruiter of the Islamic State group.
The group created by the student had notably broadcast videos and audio messages from Rachid Kassim asking “
the brothers
” of France to take action.
Co-accused, another member of the focus group, a 24-year-old Polynesian, also with no previous criminal record and suffering from a form of Charcot's disease, was convicted of terrorist association and sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment, as required by the Advocate General.
This Tahitian, detained since his indictment in August 2016, admitted during the investigation to have considered attacking a police station or soldiers.
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But, pointed out his lawyer, mainly because of his handicap which prevents him from closing his fist or from standing for a long time, the young man, who presents himself as "
a scrupulous observer
" of Islam, does not does not have the "
physical means
" to act or manufacture explosive devices.
No specific plan for an attack could be attributed to him.