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Federal prosecutors in Switzerland announced an indictment on Monday of a Kosovan and a Swiss-Macedonian dual national on terrorism-related charges and spreading the ideology of the so-called Islamic State (IS) terror group.
The 36-year-old Kosovan and the 33-year-old dual national, who have not been identified by name, are suspected of having carried out indoctrination, financing and recruitment of the Swiss chapter of a “Kosovar terrorist organisation” over the last decade, mostly in the Geneva area, the Swiss Attorney General’s office said.
The two men were arrested in September 2022 in connection with an investigation into their alleged support for IS.
The suspects allegedly launched a drive to drum up backing and funds for a “Salafi-jihadi ideology” with hopes to destabilise Kosovo and seize territory to rule under Sharia law.
The suspects face charges including participation in a terrorist group, bribery of public officials and money laundering.
They are also charged with illegally drawing some social benefits in Switzerland, according to the prosecutors.
The case now moves to the federal criminal court. Under Swiss law, the suspects are entitled to a presumption of innocence until the judicial process runs its full course and ends with a guilty verdict.
Switzerland, whose policy of neutrality aims to keep it out of conflicts, has largely avoided the violent extremism that has swept across other parts of Europe and around the world in recent decades.
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