Rotterdam juvenile court convicts five teens over ISIS TikTok propaganda

The Rotterdam juvenile court has found five of seven suspects, aged 15 and older, guilty of, among other charges, Islamic State (ISIS) membership and using TikTok to encourage others to commit terrorist acts. Two of the younger defendants were sentenced to youth detention, while three received up to 130 hours of community service, partly conditionally suspended. The court cleared the youths of charges related to planning a terrorist attack.

A 17-year-old pledged allegiance to ISIS, discussed potential attacks on social media, asked about buying firearms, and wrote a farewell letter to his mother. He was the only one in the group convicted of training for a terrorist attack. “You have clearly crossed the boundary of criminal conduct.”

The teen shared violent ISIS propaganda on TikTok and had a large following. He received the longest sentence: 431 days, with 150 days conditionally suspended, and is banned from social media during a two-year probation period.

Another 17-year-old was similarly involved in extremism and radicalization. Despite having ISIS-related accounts repeatedly blocked, he kept posting new videos on new accounts. He was therefore convicted of ISIS membership and incitement.

The court noted that urging others to pledge loyalty to ISIS and travel abroad could inspire terrorist acts. “Your actions went far beyond bravado or careless online behavior. What you did was extremely serious and dangerous,” the judge stated. He received a sentence of 159 days in juvenile detention, with 100 days conditionally suspended, and is also prohibited from using social media during his probation.

Two 15-year-olds and a 17-year-old shared nine videos in total, which the court deemed as inciting a terrorist crime. The judges considered them to be followers and handed down partly suspended community service sentences of 100 and 130 hours.

Two of the defendants were cleared. Although the court deemed the videos they shared concerning, it ruled that they did not constitute incitement to commit terrorist acts.

A total of 14 suspects were taken into custody in April of last year. Additional court sessions will take place in Rotterdam, The Hague, and Amsterdam.