The man was arrested at Arlanda in June 2024, on his way to start a journey to Somalia, where he, according to the suspicions, was to join IS.
Now he is convicted of three cases of traveling for terrorism, for gross financing of terrorism, and becomes the first in Sweden to be convicted of participating in a terrorist organization.
Jan Freij, the 22-year-old's defense lawyer, had not spoken to his client by lunchtime on Friday, who denies the crime.
The Attunda District Court has largely followed the prosecutor's line, he notes.
It is a well-written verdict, where they have gone through the details and assessed both the evidence and our objections, says Jan Freij.
But it is simultaneously difficult to defend oneself against this type of crime allegations, which they knew about when they changed the law. It is difficult to know where a court will end up when they try these paragraphs.
"Some guidance"
The new terrorist law came into force on June 1, 2023. The intention is to be able to punish actions that aim to "strengthen, promote or support" a terrorist organization.
Per Lindqvist, chief prosecutor at the National Security Unit, welcomes Friday's verdict.
We are following with great interest how the courts will view the new penal provision, he says.
One should not overestimate the significance of a single district court verdict. But I still believe it provides some guidance.
Another verdict awaits
Already on Monday, a verdict is awaiting in the Nacka District Court. Four men, who were arrested after a Security Police operation in Tyresö last year, are charged with terrorist crimes with links to IS in Somalia.
Three of them are suspected, among other things, of participating in a terrorist organization.
It will be interesting to see, even if one should perhaps draw the decisive conclusions only when the higher courts start trying this, says Per Lindqvist.
This law raised some criticism when it was introduced, including questions about how "participation" would be interpreted. How do you view that?
One should not hide the fact that it is far-reaching legislation. But one still gets a pretty good guidance on how the legislator has thought about it, says Per Lindqvist.
