Dutch prosecutors seek prison term for man who posted TikToks glorifying Islamic State

The Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) has requested a partially suspended prison sentence and community service for a 22-year-old. The OM “considers it proven” that the man shared “video material glorifying terrorists via two TikTok accounts for six months.” The videos were viewed thousands of times in total.

The OM said the risk of recidivism is low and that the defendant is improving. Taking that into account, the OM is seeking 85 days in prison, of which 60 are suspended with credit for time served in pre-trial detention, a two-year probation period, and 130 hours of community service.

The defendant is reportedly the owner of both accounts, which have since been taken offline. The videos posted glorified violence against those who do not believe in the Islamic State (IS). Some showed a speaker praising attackers in Europe; others depicted actual violence, such as a fragment of a suicide attack.

The defendant has admitted to spreading the videos through his two open accounts. The Rotterdam police unit began the investigation after receiving information from another inquiry focused on the online dissemination of jihadist extremist ideology of IS.

“Terrorism is internationally regarded as one of the most serious crimes,” the public prosecutor said in court. “Through his actions, the defendant played an active role in the spread of jihadist ideology of IS.”