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Terror trial in Luxembourg: Four IS fighters charged in absentia!
A terror trial against four IS defendants begins in Luxembourg on June 11, 2025. Their radicalization and absence raise questions.
Terror trial in Luxembourg: Four IS fighters charged in absentia!
On June 11, 2025, a landmark terror trial against four suspected IS fighters began in the Luxembourg District Court. Among the defendants are Benisen R., Anes O., Denis O. and 38-year-old Steve Duarte, who is considered the most prominent “foreign terrorist fighter” in Luxembourg. All four men left Luxembourg to join the Islamic State (IS), but their whereabouts are unclear. The investigation and trial come at a time when Luxembourg wants to take greater action against the radicalization of young people.
The trial is conducted in the absence of the defendant, which is legally permissible. The hearing is scheduled for two days. The 12th Criminal Chamber of the District Court meets in criminal cases and “par défaut”. According to the report by Reporter.lu The radicalization of the defendants took place primarily in the Escher Mosque, which is run by the “Association Multiculturelle de l’Ouest” (AMCO). This mosque is not represented in the Islamic umbrella organization “Shoura”, which indicates its more radical interpretation of Islam.
Background of the accused
The defendants' dangerous activities have deep roots in their training at the Escher Mosque, where not only material from fundamentalist preachers was disseminated, but also the influence of the Internet and attendance at congresses in Germany led to radicalization. Benisen R. briefly served as secretary of AMCO in 2013, but resigned after he decided to travel to Syria. He became radicalized through his wife, who converted to Islam. Meanwhile, the Luxembourg government took a look during its radical phase when Benisen R., Steve Duarte and Anes O. distributed Korans in Luxembourg City in November 2013; This proselytizing campaign was banned by the then mayor Xavier Bettel.
Steve Duarte is particularly known for his role in IS. He converted to Islam in 2010 and joined IS in 2014, where he is said to work for the propaganda department. His fighting name is Abu Mahadjhir Al Portughali. Loud Lessentiel.lu Duarte has been in a Kurdish-controlled prison in northeast Syria since around mid-2019. The Luxembourg authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for him, but as the law stands, extradition is unlikely.
Duarte faces numerous allegations, including terrorism, recruiting fighters and participating in executions. If convicted, he faces a life sentence. In addition to him, a 31-year-old and two brothers (38 and 35 years old) who also fought for IS in Syria and Iraq are on trial. The legal disputes and their consequences are likely to remain the focus of the Luxembourg judiciary and society in the future.