German-Syrian woman stands trial for allegedly arranging IS marriages

A 30-year-old German-Syrian woman went on trial on Friday for allegedly arranging marriages for the Islamic State terrorist network.

The defendant confessed to the court in Celle, northern Germany, that she had travelled to Syria together with her husband in 2014. She said she regretted the trip and sought to distance herself from the Sunni extremist group.

Her lawyer argued that there was no evidence to support the charge that her client had recruited women from Germany to marry Islamic State fighters, adding that a rumoured "sister network" had not existed.

The woman faces charges of membership of a terrorist organization and violating Germany's war weapons control act, because she allegedly owned two Kalashnikovs and a hand grenade while in Syria.

Women for the 'caliphate'

Prosecutors allege that her goal in travelling to Syria was to support the Islamic State with its armed insurgency and that she belonged to a network on women who sought to bring other women from Germany to the militia's self-proclaimed caliphate.

The prosecution read out WhatsApp messages on day one of the trial, which allegedly show the woman encouraging others to join her and praising life under Islamic State.

She is also said to have praised those who died for the terrorist group as martyrs.

The woman faces up to 10 years in prison.