Bosnian Man Pleads Not Guilty to Fighting in Syria

Court od Bosnia and Herzegovina. Foto: BIRN BiH  

“Honourable court, I plead not guilty,” Vukovic told the Bosnian state court as denied charges of going to Syria from 2014 to 2020 and fighting for the al-Nusra Front, which the United Nations Security Council has declared a terrorist organisation.

According to the charges, Vukovic left Bosnia on June 16, 2014 and travelled to Germany. Around two months later, he flew from Germany to Turkey and then illegally crossed the Turkish-Syrian border with the intention of joining terrorist organizations operating in that area.

The indictment alleges that the defendant remained in the area together with others from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who had gone to Syria with the same intention, and under the name Abdulaziz, took part in terrorist activities.

It also alleges that he provided assistance to and fought for Jabhat al-Nusra Front forces, members of which, through daily armed operations such as attacks on the population, killings, illegal imprisonment, hostage-taking and other actions, committed terrorist acts with an intention of forcibly overthrowing the regime.

The prosecution claims the defendant stayed in Syria until the collapse and defeat of so-called Islamic State, after which he hid in Turkey, where he was found, detained and extradited to the Bosnian judiciary in October 2020.

According to the prosecution, he committed the criminal offence of “organising a terrorist group”.

The prosecution has said it will prove the allegations in the indictment by calling several witnesses and experts, including protected witnesses, and by providing material evidence.

Vukovic is currently being held in custody.