The two sisters accused of terrorism, aged 25 and 29, from Bærum and their three children, came to Norway from Syria at the end of March. The sisters were arrested when they arrived in Norway, charged with having participated in the terrorist organization IS. The sisters have now spent four weeks in custody and on Thursday afternoon it became clear that they will be detained for another four weeks. Police prosecutor Terje Nedrebø Michelsen asked for custody for four more weeks, because the police believe there is still a risk of tampering with evidence. Distances itself from IS Defender Geir Lippestad represents the older of the two sisters. He says that it is important to be aware that when the women spoke to the press in the camps in Syria, they were aware that what they said was read and controlled by others there. This influenced what they said, for example, about wanting to come home to Norway, says the defender. – According to the two, the fact that they can now explain themselves without threats of retaliation is the first time. They are very happy to do that. In other words, tell your story without threats of punishment and retaliation, says Lippestad to news. How do they approach IS? – They distance themselves from the terrorist group IS and have never participated in any battles or anything in connection with IS, says the defender. Desired four weeks The women, who were respectively 16 and 19 years old when they traveled to Syria, are charged under section 136 a. of the Criminal Code for participation in a terrorist group. Police prosecutor Kathrine Tonstad in PST told news ahead of the prison hearings that it was important that the sisters remained in custody. This is in view of the risk of tampering with evidence. The two sisters are now in custody and isolated from each other and, according to Tonstad, it is important that they cannot communicate with each other. – It is also not desirable that they communicate with others who are relevant for us to question as witnesses, she says. Volunteering part of the investigation The two women have communicated through their defenders that they were held in Syria under duress and that they were not there voluntarily. They therefore believe that the basis for the charges against them is not correct. – What do you say to that? – This with voluntariness and possible coercion is a topic in the investigation that must be elucidated in more detail. Among other things, through the accused’s explanations and other investigative steps, Tonstad replies. – We believe there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that they have participated in ISIL, she continues.
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The Bærum sisters accused of terrorism distance themselves from IS – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
