Five Bosnians Accused of Fighting in Syria Remain in Custody

Berbic, who has been charged with unlawfully forming and joining foreign paramilitary or parapolice formations in Syria, can now be held in custody for up to two years after the confirmation of the indictment – until May 14, 2022 -or until a new court decision has been made.

According to the charges, Berbic left Bosnia and Herzegovina and travelled to Turkey in mid-2014. After that he illegally went to Syria and joined foreign paramilitary formations that operated as part of so-called Islamic State.

Alisic and Labidi, who have been charged with the same crimes, can be held in custody for up to two years after the confirmation of their indictments – until May 15, 2022 – or until a new court decision.

Alisic has been charged with leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina in late 2013, travelling to Turkey and then illegally to Syria, where he fought for Islamic State as member of several armed groups in the towns of Raqqa and Haritan.

Labidi left Bosnia and Herzegovina together with his family in mid-2014. He travelled to Turkey and then illegally crossed the Syrian border. The investigation determined that in 2016 he was a member of several armed groups and participated in combat in the towns of Raqqa and Haritan.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina also extended custody remands for Kasupovic and Keserovic, who have been accused of the same criminal offences.

The state court terminated the custody measure for Armen Dzelko, who has been accused of organising a terrorist group and fighting in Syria, and instead imposed restrictive measures after a request from his defence.

The six suspects, alongside Muharem Dunjic, who the prosecution is still investigating for going to Syria to fight, were deported to Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 2019.