An Iraqi court on Thursday (May 10th) began the trial of a Belgian "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) extremist who threatened attacks against the West in propaganda videos, AFP reported.
Tarik Jadaoun -- known by his nom de guerre Abu Hamza al-Beljiki -- pleaded "not guilty" to charges including carrying out attacks on Iraqi troops that could see him handed the death penalty.
Born in 1988, Jadaoun -- who was captured in Mosul in August -- appeared before the Baghdad court dressed in a beige prison uniform with a shaved head and bushy moustache.
"I was not a fighter, I was in charge of a group of ISIS nurses. I took care of everybody," he told the court. "I got lost and I appeal to your kindness."
Jadaoun, who has Moroccan roots, said he was forced by "one of the top ISIS commanders" to appear in videos threatening attacks against Belgium and France.
The judge postponed the next hearing until May 22nd, with a judicial source putting the delay down to a lack of diplomatic representation for the accused.
