French man, wife on trial over joining ISIS in Syria

DAMASCUS (North Press) – French man Jonathan Jeffrey and his wife were seen in court over charges of links to the Islamic State (ISIS) and participating in terrorist acts with the group in Syria.

Jeffrey, joined the radical group in 2015 along with his Moroccan wife Latifa Shadley when their baby was two months old. On Monday, Jeffery and Shadley appeared in court.

Jeffery’s mother, Denise B., is also accused of financing a terrorist organization for sending thousands of euros to her son while he was in Syria.

Jeffery, who is the only accused under arrest, was captured by the opposition’s Free Syrian Army in 2016 as he sought to leave Syria after contacting French intelligence services. He was extradited to France the next year where he revealed that ISIS was planning to send “Cubs of the Caliphate” to French soil to carry out suicide acts.

On the French soil Jeffrey told French investigators ISIS was also planning to “spread terror in the French countryside” and “target a French nuclear power plant.” He also provided the names of dozens of French people who joined radical group. This could be helpful to Jeffery to receive a shorter term that could reach 30 years in prison.