Sunniva Rose

1 week ago | thenationalnews.com | Sunniva Rose

A French court on Friday sentenced an imam to a six-month suspended prison term for “terrorism apology” after he re-posted a social media post saying the Hamas-led attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023 were justified. The Marseille criminal court also fined Smain Bendjilali €2,000 ($2,265) and imposed a five-year civil rights ban, which prevents him from voting or standing for public office. His name was added to a terrorist offences register.

1 week ago | thenationalnews.com | Sunniva Rose

The Council of the European Union on Wednesday issued sanctions against those deemed responsible for the mass killing of members of the Alawite community in Syria's coastal region in March. The proposal for punitive measures had been made on March 17 by Jean-Noel Barrot, the French Foreign Minister. The names of the two people and three entities sanctioned have yet to be published. A series of attacks by pro-government militias on the Alawite and Druze minorities has rocked Syria in recent months.

1 week ago | thenationalnews.com | Sunniva Rose

A verdict is expected to be issued on Wednesday in the month-long trial of a former spokesman of Syrian rebel group Jaish Al Islam. In his last statement to the jury before it withdrew to deliberate, Majdi Nema, 36, reiterated his innocence but did not address the charges that have been issued against him. He is accused of complicity in the group's war crimes and risks 20 years in prison.

1 week ago | thenationalnews.com | Sunniva Rose

At his goodbye party in November, the EU foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, made a diplomatic gesture that received little attention at the time but meant a lot to Palestinians. Mr Borrell received copies of the mission letters of the new Palestinian ambassador, Amal Jadou, in a symbolic gesture of support to the Palestinian diplomatic profile at the heart of Europe.

1 week ago | thenationalnews.com | Sunniva Rose

Ireland is today expected to become the first European Union country to draft legislation banning imports from Israeli businesses operating in the occupied Palestinian territories. It comes among mounting anger over Europe's response to Israel's breaches of international law in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. In a letter signed by more than 2,000 EU employees, the bloc's senior officials stand accused of responding inadequately.