'Syrian traveler Martijn N. must humble for 3 years'

schiphol - Against the 24-year-old Martijn N., who tried to travel to Syria twice, a three-year prison sentence was demanded on appeal. The Hague man intended to join a jihadist group as a fighter.

N., who calls himself 'Lative', tried to enter Syria twice, but both attempts ended up in Turkey. The first time he traveled with a friend. Seized telephones were found to have contact with jihadist Soufiane Z., who was already there.

From him they received instructions how to cross the border and what to do if they were to be caught. Z. was arrested when he wanted to cross the border with Syria in Turkey.

At the beginning of 2016, N. tried again. He then succeeded in getting on a plane in Düsseldorf, although he was registered as a terror suspect and his passport was taken. As a result of a telephone failure, the issuing of his arrest warrant was delayed.

N., son of a Dutch father and a Tanzanian mother, started to study Islam more closely after he was eighteen. According to his environment, he became increasingly strict in his faith.

Last year he was sentenced to 31 months in prison by the court in The Hague, of which one year is conditional. The Public Prosecution Service found the punishment too low and appealed.