The Audiencia Nacional has sentenced two men to six and a half years in prison for indoctrinating young people and minors in jihadist ideology in Melilla, including the 12-year-old nephew of one of the convicts. The men, Rachid Akouad and El Ourdani Zaroith, both of Moroccan nationality, were convicted on charges of terrorist indoctrination intended to facilitate recruitment into a terrorist organization or collaboration with its aims. The court’s Second Criminal Chamber stated that the accused had used social networks, forums and websites to carry out extensive activity that reflected a progressive radicalisation of their religious beliefs. This activity included the adoption of an ultra-orthodox vision of Islam that was aligned with the ideology of the Islamic State (ISIS).

From 2020 until their arrest in 2022, their activities evolved into intense proselytizing and a constant call to others to embrace jihadist tenets and engage in holy war against perceived enemies.

In addition to digital outreach, they also held in-person meetings in Melilla with others, including minors, where violent jihadist doctrines were taught. It is also important to note that they praised Islamic terrorism and its perpetrators, portraying them in a positive light.

One of the convicted individuals, El Ourdani Zaroith, used his familial connections to influence his 12-year-old nephew. The court found that he sent the boy documents promoting violent jihad and exploited his position of authority to shape the child’s beliefs.

Further analysis of one of his devices revealed a video showing multiple minors in a wooded area near Melilla, along with several adults who were later identified as individuals convicted by the National Court for jihadist terrorism offences. The other man used jihadist audiovisual content, hosted young individuals in his home, and also taught them salafist doctrine and martial arts. In one video, attendees at an event were seen shouting that they were “soldiers of Allah” and had been radicalised from childhood. During the trial, both defendants denied the accusations. El Ourdani claimed he shared Arabic content without understanding it and sang certain songs “as one might with a David Bisbal song,” a popular Spanish artist.

In its judgment, the court explained that the sentence of six and a half years’ imprisonment — in the lower half of the statutory range but close to the maximum — was justified by the high quantity and quality of extremist material disseminated online, which significantly amplified the spread of their message.

The judges also highlighted that the content shared was not only relevant for indoctrination, but included praise of terrorist acts and those who committed them.

Source: https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20260116/audiencia-nacional-condena-a-dos-marroquis-por-adoctrinar-yihad-a-jovenes-melilla-incluido-nino-12-anos/16897861.shtml