Terrorist Salah Abdeslam (32) has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Abdeslam was not only closely involved in the preparations for the attacks in Paris in 2015, but was also a co-perpetrator of those attacks. This was decided by the court in Paris on Wednesday evening.
A total of twenty suspects were charged. The sentences they received ranged from 2 years in prison to life. Three suspects receive a modified sentence and do not have to go to jail.
The suspects were on trial for the Paris attacks. On the evening of November 13, 2015, terrorist commandos struck at the Stade de France, north of Paris, then on cafe terraces in the city and in the Bataclan concert hall. The attacks were claimed by Islamic State. 130 people were killed.
The nine other terrorists who carried out the massacres blew themselves up or were shot dead by the police.
Abdeslam was the only one to survive of the perpetrators. He was arrested in Belgium the following year. Abdeslam said at the trial that he decided that day not to blow himself up, out of “humanity”. The judge dismissed that defense on Wednesday evening. According to the court, the bomb vest was defective and Abdeslam was therefore unable to blow himself up. That also played a role in the judge to sentence him to life.
Blood on his hands
According to justice, Abdeslam has blood on his hands and has never shown remorse for his actions. Therefore, life sentences were demanded against him. “Abdeslam has tried to minimize his own role in the attacks. He has caused confusion,” the prosecutor said. But according to justice it is certain that he has remained faithful to the ‘ideology’ of Islamic State. “Despite his words and despite his tears, he has never shown remorse. He has presented himself as a fighter of IS.” He would therefore be a lasting danger to society.
The verdict puts an end to one of the largest terror trials in history. The lawsuit lasted 10 months. More than 300 lawyers were involved.
Speaking right
Several thousand survivors and relatives had registered as a civil party. Many of them appeared on all session days. They were also given the right to speak and were allowed to tell their story in front of the suspects.
The sentence of life without the possibility of parole is not often imposed in France. In the country, people sentenced to life imprisonment are often released after 20 to 25 years.
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