Swiss anti-Islamic State fighter faces trial in Switzerland
Swiss former army officer Johan Cosar, center, arrives at the Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland together with his lawyer Yasar Ravi, right, and the assistant of the defence lawyer, left, In Bellinzona.
Keystone
A former Swiss army officer who fought in a Christian militia against the Islamic State in Syria appears in a military court in Bellinzona today. He is accused of undermining Switzerland’s defensive capabilities by joining a foreign army.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/jdp
Born in St Gallen and raised in Ticino, Johan Cosar’s family belongs to the Syriac minority, one of the oldest Christian communities in the East of Syria. He was also a sergeant in the Swiss army.
He has admitted to co-founding and participating in the activities of a private militia, the Syriac Military Council. The militia’s mission is to defend the Christian populations of Syria, which are persecuted by the Islamic State.
After two years fighting for the militia, Cosar was arrested in Basel in 2015 upon his return to Switzerland, accused of illegally fighting for a foreign army.
Cosar who is now 37 is facing allegations that he undermined the defensive capabilities of the country by engaging in a foreign army, which is prohibited under Article 94 of the Swiss Military Penal Code.
In response to questions by Swiss public television SRF on Tuesday, Cosar rejected the accusations: “No, I do not consider myself guilty, absolutely not,” he asserts. He said that he has “defended innocent people,” and “I do not regret what I did – fighting a terrorist organisation – and if it happened in in Switzerland, I would be the first to commit myself to fight it.”
He appeared on the stand alongside his cousin, accused of helping him recruit soldiers through social networks such as Facebook and Youtube.
Cosar faces up to three years in prison under the military penal code. In similar cases, the military court has typically imposed financial penalties.
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss citizen arrested for fighting Islamic State
This content was published on
The 32-year-old Cosar, who was born in St Gallen and grew up in Locarno, is currently free on bail but faces up to three years in prison if convicted of fighting for a foreign military force without permission, according to Swiss Public Television, RSI. Military justice proceedings against Cosar were launched last autumn while he…
Justice minister wants Swiss jihadists to be tried abroad
This content was published on
Speaking on the sensitive issue of repatriating jihadists, Keller-Sutter told Swiss public radio RTS on Tuesday that she “would prefer that they be tried on the spot”. She also highlighted the dangers of such repatriations for Switzerland. “For me, the priority remains the safety of the Swiss population and the Swiss security forces. Should we…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.