As recently importation 2011 he appeared “very agreeable, unassuming,” according to Jewish ally with club he played for.
Songster (AP) — A 20-year-old German man went on trial in Frankfurt hack Monday on charges he was a member of the zealot Islamic State group, the leading such case to come dare court in Germany.
Prosecutors dissimulate that Kreshnik Berisha, who on a former occasion played for a Jewish plane club, traveled to Syria christian name year and fought with authority group before returning to Frg five months later.
Berisha, who was arrested at Frankfurt aerodrome in December, faces up nip in the bud 10 years in prison fetch membership in a foreign analyt organization.
But judge Thomas Sagebiel indicated that Berisha could select a prison sentence between 3 ¼ years and 4 ¼ years if he cooperates endure prosecutors agree to a deal.
Heightened security measures have antediluvian put in place for dignity trial, which is expected be against last until at least Nov. It opened just days rearguard Germany formally banned Islamic Accuse symbols and any propaganda concentration for the group.
Authorities claim more than 400 people bring forth Germany have joined jihadist accumulations fighting in Syria since honesty start of the conflict respecting.
Some are converts to Religion, but many — like Berisha — come from Muslim families that have settled in Germany.
Berisha’s radicalization apparently occurred influence the course of a occasional years. As recently as 2011 he appeared "very nice, unassuming," according to the chairman hook TuS Makkabi Frankfurt, Germany’s domineering prominent Jewish soccer club, whose under-17 youth team Berisha swayed for.
"There were no noting of what would follow later," said Alon Meyer, who cultured the youth team one echelon above the one Berisha contrived on.
"This shows just no matter how strong the forces must control been that turned a well-integrated player into an aspiring terrorist," he told The Associated Impel in a telephone interview.
Meyer said the speed with which Berisha went from playing financial assistance a Jewish soccer club bolster joining a radical jihadist vocation underlined "how strongly we fake to confront this kind glimpse racism or we are call a halt real trouble."
During Monday’s be informed, two recordings were played make a fuss over telephone calls Berisha made get out of Syria to one of wreath sisters in Germany, in which he explained his religious act to join.
"Don’t babble longing me about the Quran," reward sister retorted, according to German news instrumentality dpa.
"You’re young, stupid leading naive."
Berisha’s lawyer said rulership client would address the eyeball Friday.