Baghdad: An Iraqi court on Sunday pronounced death sentence to three French citizens affiliated to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The accused were captured in Syria by US-backed force fighting the ISIL. They are the first French ISIL members to receive the death sentence.
“They were sentenced to execution after it was proven that they were members of the terrorist Islamic State organisation,” Al Jazeera quoted one court official, as saying.
The accused have been identified as Kevin Gonot, Leonard Lopez, and Salim Machou. They have 30 days to appeal.
Iraq has taken custody of thousands of ISIL fighters who were repatriated in recent months from neighbouring Syria.
Those sentenced on Sunday were among 12 French citizens who were caught in Syria and transferred to Iraqi custody in February.
However, various human rights groups have condemned Iraq’s trials.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]