Dutch court jails Syria jihadist, frees wife

A Dutch court sentenced a jihadist to three years in prison today for fighting in Syria, reportedly the first penalty of its kind in the Netherlands.
The Hague district court convicted the 20-year-old man, identified only as "Maher H" under Dutch privacy laws, for having fought in the Syrian conflict.
His wife, aged 20, was acquitted of recruiting two women to go to Syria to marry jihadists. The court found that wives of jihadists are not necessarily taking part in armed combat.
Dutch media said the jailing of a former fighter in Syria was the first of its kind in the country, but the public prosecutor's office could not immediately confirm this.

Maher H, who was in Syria from July 2013 to February 2014, was also convicted of spreading propaganda calling for terrorist attacks.
He admitted going to Syria, but said he only engaged in humanitarian work such as distributing food packets.

The prosecutor showed the court photos from social media in which the suspect could be seen with an assault rifle.
The Dutch cabinet in August announced stricter measures to combat jihadism and radicalisation of Muslims in the Netherlands.
"Jihadism is a substantial threat to Dutch national security and international law and order," Security and Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten and Social Affairs Minister Lodewijk Asscher said in a letter to parliament.

"That's why the cabinet is taking additional measures to strengthen the current measures already in existence to tackle jihadism."
Apart from jail sentences for returning jihadists, additional measures included taking legal action against would-be fighters planning to travel to Syria and confiscating their passports.
They also involve cracking down on pro-jihadist literature, and targeting those who support jihad on social media and websites.