German imam sentenced to prison for helping Islamic State

Abu Walaa, born in Iraq, convinced Germans to fight for the Islamic State, according to the court.
Iraqi defendant Abu Walaa, described as the Islamic State group's de facto leader in Germany, hides his face as he arrives at court for the verdict of his trial on February 24, 2021 in Celle, central Germany. - A German court hands down on february 24 its ruling in a case against Abu Walaa, a notorious Iraqi preacher believed to be the Islamic State jihadist group's de facto leader in Germany. Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah Abdullah, better known as Abu Walaa, is accused of being "IS' representative in Germany" a
Iraqi defendant Abu Walaa, described as the Islamic State group's de facto leader in Germany, hides his face as he arrives at court for the verdict of his trial on Feb. 24, 2021, in Celle, central Germany. - JULIAN STRATENSCHULTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Monitor Staff

A German court has convicted an imam for sending young people to join the Islamic State (IS).

Abu Walaa was found guilty of supporting and being a member of a terrorist organization. He was sentenced to 10½ years in prison, Germany’s public broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported on Wednesday.

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