Among those convicted by the district court are two brothers in their mid-twenties who allegedly converted to Islam when they were in high school age, a man in his early twenties and a man in his sixties. The latter has been pointed out as a kind of spiritual leader for the younger men.
In Nacka District Court, all were sentenced to between three and six and a half years in prison for participating in IS activities.
However, the Court of Appeal does not consider it proven that three of the men acted on behalf of IS and acquits them of suspicion.
Not punishable with opinions
The fourth, one of the convert brothers, has however sworn allegiance to the terrorist sect and is convicted by the Court of Appeal for participating in a terrorist organization, a serious crime.
“The indictment is largely based on what people have expressed in various contexts, such as in intercepted conversations. Expressing an opinion or sympathies in favor of a terrorist organization or its ideology is not enough to be punishable. There must be a concrete and qualified connection to the organization. In this case, the Court of Appeal considers that such a connection is only shown for one of the individuals,” says Janina Kastevik, Court of Appeal assessor in a press statement.
Convicted for firearms offense
The three younger men were also charged with preparing a terrorist offense, among other things, for having possessed a pistol with the intention of killing or harming others in the name of the Islamic State, but were acquitted of these suspicions by the district court in February. The Court of Appeal also acquits them of this. They are however convicted of a serious firearms offense.
Two of the men, including the one who swore allegiance to IS, are sentenced to four years and ten months in prison. The third is sentenced to three years and ten months in prison. The older man receives a conditional sentence for incitement to racial hatred.
The four men were arrested during a highly publicized Säpo raid on several locations in Tyresö outside Stockholm in March 2024.
