By Nasrin Akiol DUSSERDOLF, Germany – A German national who says he repented and returned after joining the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria went on trial Friday, with prosecutors demanding a 10-year jail term. Nazzat Ess, 22, returned to Germany in December after travelling to war-torn Syria earlier last year. “The defendant is accused of being a member of ISIS and has taken part in armed clashes in Syria after training with the group there,” announced Andreas Vitek, the spokesperson of the Dusseldorf court. During hearings on Thursday, Ess said he travelled to Syria to fight and had been asked to join ISIS, but decided not to after seeing “horrible scenes” and returning to Germany. German prosecutors described the defendant’s story as “unreliable” and said “strong suspicions” remained as to why the man returned home. “Even the court has been suspicious about Nazzat’s story and his claimed repentance,” prosecutors said. Ess, who is originally from Albania, was arrested in December when he returned to Germany. Prosecutors have demanded a prison term up to 10 years. Around 300 people face prosecution In Germany for supporting ISIS, according to German Justice Minister Heiko Maas, as anti-terrorism laws are being revised in the country.
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