7error susSeFts distanFe themselves Irom terror threat

The terror suspects, Raoul A and Nasser I, on Friday distanced themselves from the terror threat that was posted on social media on Wednesday. Defense Attorney Michella Lau-Kerssenberg, who together with Murwin Dubois is representing the suspects told Times of Suriname that her clients deny having any ties with the people who posted the terror threats on Facebook. Terror threats have been posted on social media by Mohammed Ahmed Al-Mehdi and Mohammed Ali Bin Salah. The suspects made it clear that they and their relatives are left with the burden of the threats although they are not involved in those activities. Lau-Kerssenberg who on June 14 joined the defense team deemed it regrettable that a threat was posted on Facebook for a second time and that this threat also indicated that terror attacks would be carried out if the two suspects who are being suspected of recruiting people for Islamic State (IS) are not released from jail. The terror suspects have been in jail for nearly 11 months. After the first threat was posted the judge decided to hold the trial behind closed doors. Lau-Kerssenberg pointed out that the defendants are being prosecuted for being members of IS and recruiting people for IS “although there is not enough lawful or hard evidence to support those charges.” She made it clear that freedom of speech is one of the foundations of our democratic society and that it is also a requirement for the progress of our society and the development of each person. The characteristics of a democratic society are pluralism, tolerance and thinking out-of-the-box, and therefore require room for sharing information, thoughts and opinions which shock, insult or concern the State or the majority of society. The right to freedom of speech is also anchored in our constitution. Glorifying something also is not punishable by law. The manner in which the suspects exercised their right to freedom of speech, conscience and religion may cause shock, insult or concern but is not punishable.”