They were described as a trio: the sisters from Bærum and a 34-year-old from Oslo. The 34-year-old has already been convicted of participating in the terrorist group IS. She has finished her sentence. The three traveled from Norway to Syria every few months, survived the IS caliphate and were eventually brought home by the Norwegian authorities. TWO SISTERS: The sisters are accused of participating in IS for six years and eight years. Both have said that the former girlfriend was active in connection with their trip. Photo: Ane Hem / NTB In the Oslo District Court, the eldest sister in particular pointed to her former best friend: In her free statement, the defendant said that she was inspired by and pressured to travel by her friend. – She failed me. The betrayal is not something I realized until many years later, said the eldest sister when she first explained herself in court. The sister has said that the 34-year-old and her husband “strongly influenced her to travel” and that she was “pushed hard”. – I was given an ultimatum that if I didn’t come now, they were no longer interested in helping me, said the defendant. – They made a choice themselves The two became known when both were active in the conservative youth organization Islam net in Oslo. The 34-year-old and the eldest sister quickly became close friends. – We began our Islamic journey together, explained the eldest sister. They went from hijab to niqab and became more concerned with religion. But she also described how the 34-year-old must have had control over her and great influence. – Everything she wanted me to do, I did. On Wednesday, the 34-year-old rejected this representation. She shook her head when the prosecutor asked if she had tricked the defendants into going to Syria. The 34-year-old was dressed in denim trousers and a white jumper. She no longer covers her hair. Defense attorney Hilde Firman Fjellså asked if she understood how the sisters perceive her role. DEFENDER: Hilde Firman Fjellså defends the youngest sister. She had just turned 16 when she left. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB – No. I made a choice to travel. I regret it, but I don’t blame others, the 34-year-old said in court. – Ultimately, they made a choice to travel down themselves. Don’t remember manipulation It was in February 2013 that the 34-year-old traveled to Syria. There she married the Norwegian IS fighter Bastian Vasquez. In the criminal case against her, the 34-year-old admitted that she was radicalized when she left. The eldest sister believes that during this period the 34-year-old played on her religious conscience so that the sisters wanted to take the same journey themselves. In court, a Skype conversation from October 2013 was shown. There, the eldest sister said that the 34-year-old “invites us to come”. The 34-year-old was asked if she recognized herself in it. – I do not remember that I have manipulated her or encouraged her, answered the witness. – She has used words such as manipulated, pressured, tricked. Do you have any idea why she says that, asked prosecutor Marit Formo. PROSECUTOR: Public prosecutor Marit Formo asked the witness if she recognized herself in having urged them to come. No, answered the 34-year-old. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB – It’s up to her to tell. But I don’t have the personality to manipulate another, said the 34-year-old. She described the defendant as a person with a strong personality, who dared to stand up for his own opinions. – She has a dominant personality, said the 34-year-old. – Part of the reason was to help The sisters are accused of participating in the terrorist organization IS. They deny criminal guilt. Prosecutors believe the sisters went to Syria with a plan to each marry an IS fighter. Through, among other things, their marriage, the sisters made an active contribution to IS, according to them. Throughout the trial, the sisters have maintained that they traveled to Syria to carry out aid work. The 34-year-old was asked what she thought was the reason for their departure. – It can be complex. Part of the reason was to help the civilian population, but I also think it was a desire to get married, answered the 34-year-old. Published 06.11.2024, at 18.32
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– They made a choice themselves – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
