# French jihadists tried in Baghdad: convictions and guilty plea

> On October 27, 2026, the Al-Karkh criminal court in Baghdad convicted French jihadists for membership in the Islamic State, with life sentences and prison terms of 15 to 20 years. Three more French nationals were sentenced to life on October 29, after the first convictions handed down in the same trial. On October 31, Iraqi justice tallied nine life sentences and one 15-year sentence, while 47 French nationals transferred from Kurdish camps in Syria are to be tried in Iraq. On November 2, Thomas Barnouin, 45, a former member of the Artigat network, pleaded guilty in Baghdad and disavowed the organization's crimes.

**In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 5 events, followed from 27 October 2026 to 2 November 2026. 10 articles from 9 sources (justice); last updated on 2 November 2026 at 08:57.

- Status: ongoing
- Category: Justice
- Place: Not located
- First detected: 27 October 2026 at 10:57
- Updated: 2 November 2026 at 08:57
- Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/89-french-jihadists-tried-in-baghdad-convictions-and-guilty-plea

## Coverage angles

All three sides report the same convictions of French jihadists in Baghdad, with discrepancies in the sentencing count and contextual elements highlighted (overall trial, transfer from Syria, escape from the death penalty).

**Common ground**

- French nationals have been convicted in Baghdad for membership in the Islamic State
- Six defendants were sentenced to life and a seventh to 15 years in the first wave
- Around 47 French nationals transferred from Syria to Iraq last year are being tried
- The convictions were handed down by the Al-Karkh criminal court

**Differences**

- The convicted count varies: six or seven depending on headlines, and a right-wing outlet mentions ten convicted then three more
- The mention of escaping the death penalty and the 'very high risk' description appears only in a right-wing outlet
- The date October 26 appears in a center headline, while other sources indicate October 27
- The reference to Kurdish camps in Syria as the transfer starting point appears only in a right-wing outlet

## Timeline (5 events)

### 27 October 2026 — [Six French sentenced to life in Iraq for belonging to the Islamic State](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1689-six-french-sentenced-to-life-in-iraq-for-belonging-to-the-islamic-state.md)

The criminal court of Al-Karkh, in Baghdad, sentenced six French jihadists to life imprisonment and a seventh to fifteen years for belonging to the Islamic State.

5 sources, 5 articles · Nationwide

### 27 October 2026 — [Seven French jihadists sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison in Iraq](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1941-seven-french-jihadists-sentenced-to-15-to-20-years-in-prison-in-iraq.md)

In Iraq, seven French defendants were sentenced to prison terms of 15 to 20 years for membership in the Islamic State group and for having contributed to 'spreading terror'.

2 sources, 2 articles · Bagdad

### 29 October 2026 — [Irak : trois nouveaux djihadistes français condamnés à la perpétuité](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3801-irak-trois-nouveaux-djihadistes-francais-condamnes-a-la-perpetuite.md)

Trois nouveaux djihadistes français ont été condamnés à la réclusion à perpétuité à Bagdad, après les six condamnations à perpétuité et la peine de 15 ans prononcées mardi dans le même procès.

1 sources, 1 articles · Bagdad

### 31 October 2026 — [Dix djihadistes français condamnés en Irak](https://acturadar.com/en/events/5625-dix-djihadistes-francais-condamnes-en-irak.md)

La justice irakienne a condamné neuf djihadistes français à la perpétuité et un autre à 15 ans de prison pour appartenance à l'État islamique. Au total, 47 Français doivent être jugés en Irak après leur transfert depuis les camps kurdes de Syrie.

1 sources, 1 articles · Not located

### 2 November 2026 — [Le jihadiste albigeois Thomas Barnouin plaide coupable à Bagdad](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6848-le-jihadiste-albigeois-thomas-barnouin-plaide-coupable-a-bagdad.md)

Jugé à Bagdad parmi 47 Français poursuivis pour appartenance à l'État islamique, Thomas Barnouin, 45 ans, ancien de la filière d'Artigat, plaide coupable et désavoue les crimes de l'organisation.

1 sources, 1 articles · Bagdad

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Cite as: Acturadar, “French jihadists tried in Baghdad: convictions and guilty plea”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/89-french-jihadists-tried-in-baghdad-convictions-and-guilty-plea
Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology