Spanish Court Upholds 5-Year Sentence for Imam Convicted of Promoting Jihad

In the decision reported by Europa Press, the judges confirmed the sentence handed down in April by the court of first instance, which stated that the imam’s activities threatened national security because he called for jihad and incited the commission of terrorist acts. The accused took advantage of his position as an imam, and therefore "as a spiritual leader, to spread the jihadist ideology to members of his community, promoting the use of violence against those who do not share their vision of Islam," it is specified.

The imam is also accused of having published on social networks photographs and videos of terrorist acts. The court points out that Bilal Jfita is not convicted because of his ideology, but rather because of his behaviors, considered as a crime of self-radicalization and incitement to terrorism, which represent a threat to peace and public security. Several files with violent content were found on the phones and laptops seized during the search of his home.

The court’s decision also stressed that the imam had personal and Internet contacts with Noussa El Morabit, a pro-Daesh who was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Morocco. After examining the content of the devices, the Audiencia confirmed the court’s decision, supporting the fact that "Bilal Jfita disseminated on the Internet documents, videos, photographs and audios prepared by terrorist organizations, to indoctrinate and incite the commission of attacks".