The Luxembourg terrorist will be tried
Curated Lifestyle, Unsplash
Steve Duarte, who was radicalised in Luxembourg and joined the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS), has found himself at the centre of a trial. In 2019, he was detained by Kurdish forces in Syria, where he remains in custody. His case includes charges of murder, terrorist acts and threatening countries in Europe.
The Luxembourg Chamber of Justice has confirmed the conclusion of the investigation. The trial may start soon, probably in absentia, as Duarte's return to Luxembourg is unlikely.
Duarte, a native of the village of Meispelt, left Luxembourg in 2014. Radicalisation took place in the Grand Duchy, after which he joined IS, participated in hostilities and was allegedly involved in public executions.
His family, who remain in Luxembourg, have tried unsuccessfully to contact Duarte through specialised organisations. His wife and children also remain in detention in Syria. Meanwhile, Duarte himself, once well-known in Luxembourg's music scene, has become a "ghost" to his former acquaintances and the country's official authorities.
At the same time, the Luxembourg authorities are not concerned with Duarte's repatriation: he is a Portuguese citizen who left the country more than ten years ago. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that this case is no longer within their competence.
