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Netherlands drops case against man suspected of killing Isis fighters | Netherlands drops case against man suspected of killing Isis fighters |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Dutch prosecution service has quashed a case against a former soldier arrested on suspicion of killing jihadis from Islamic State while fighting alongside Kurdish forces in Syria last year. | |
“Public prosecutors have dismissed the case against JA, who was suspected of being involved in killing Isis fighters in Syria,” the prosecutors’ office said in a statement on Tuesday. | |
Dutch media have named the man as 47-year-old Jitse Akse, who left for Syria in early 2015. | Dutch media have named the man as 47-year-old Jitse Akse, who left for Syria in early 2015. |
Police arrested Akse in January in the eastern Dutch city of Arnhem after he told newspapers and reported on Facebook that he had fought against jihadis in Syria. | |
He said he had been fighting alongside the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), and his arrest prompted an outpouring of support from Dutch people. | |
Related: UN accused of taking sides in Syrian conflict | Related: UN accused of taking sides in Syrian conflict |
Amnesty International accused YPG last year of chasing citizens from their homes in northern Syria before razing the buildings. | |
Dutch prosecutors said, however, that there was “insufficient evidence to show that A was personally involved in committing homicide or attempted homicide”. | |
“The content of A’s claims are difficult to prove and are not supported by any other evidence,” their statement said. “Also, an on-the-ground investigation is impossible given the current climate. | |
“A was informed of the decision to dismiss the case and was again warned against the illegality of private participation of citizens in an armed conflict.” |