Bosnia Extends Custody Remand for Suspected Syria Fighter

The Bosnian state court said on January 17 that the custody order for Muharem Dunic, who is suspected of going to fight in the war in Syria, should be extended until March 19 or until a new court ruling.

According to the state prosecution’s allegations, Dunic and his wife left Austria and went to Syria in 2014. While in Syria, he was given weapons training. He was arrested in Baghouz in Syria in February 2019.

During the custody extension hearing, the prosecution said it could be determined from Dunic’s statement that he kept watch at the border to Kurdish territory and was a member of an organisation that arrested people who were not members of the so-called Islamic State.

In December 2019, Dunic was transferred to Bosnia and Herzegovina by plane alongside Senad Kasupovic, Emir Alisic, Miralem Berbic, Jasmin Keserovic, Hamza Labidi and Armen Dzelko, who are also suspected of going to fight abroad. The prosecution has requested two-month custody extensions for them as well.