Peter Cherif Stands Trial for Terrorism Charges in France
French jihad veteran Peter Cherif, aged 42, is currently on trial at the Special Assize Court in Paris, facing serious charges including criminal terrorist association and involvement in the notorious 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack. The trial commenced on Monday, September 16, 2023, and has already drawn significant attention due to its connections to one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in France's recent history.
During the second day of hearings, Cherif refused to provide any testimony when asked by the court president to recount his life. "I do not wish to speak, Madam President," he stated, after removing his surgical mask. On the first day of the trial, he had already denied the allegations against him, insisting he did not recognize the facts of the case.
Allegations of Facilitating Terrorism
Cherif's trial revolves around his alleged involvement in a criminal terrorist association from 2011 to 2018, particularly during his time in Yemen with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). He is also charged with the organized kidnapping of three French nationals in 2011, who were working for the NGO Triangle Génération Humanitaire. However, the most contentious aspect of the trial is his supposed role in the Charlie Hebdo massacre, which occurred on January 7, 2015, and resulted in the deaths of 17 individuals.
Investigating judges assert that Cherif played a crucial role in facilitating the integration of one of the Kouachi brothers, likely Chérif, into AQAP. They claim he was aware of a plot to execute an attack in France that was assigned to his childhood friend during a brief visit to Yemen in the summer of 2011. This connection to the attackers has made Cherif's trial a focal point in discussions about terrorism and security in France.
Previous Testimonies and Ongoing Silence
Cherif had previously testified in the fall of 2020 as a witness during the trial concerning the January 2015 attacks carried out by the Kouachi brothers. At that time, he claimed to have had no involvement in the attacks, a statement he reiterated in court by choosing to remain silent during his current trial. As the proceedings continue, the court will further examine the evidence and testimonies related to Cherif's alleged terrorist activities and his connections to the Kouachi brothers.
