Karbala court sentences ISIS member to 15 years over Arbaeen attack plot

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A criminal court in Karbala has sentenced an ISIS member to 15 years in prison for plotting attacks against pilgrims marking the Arbaeen commemoration of Imam Hussein this year, Iraq's judiciary media office said. The defendant used social media to spread ISIS propaganda and communicated with other members of the group to plan terrorist assaults in Karbala and Najaf, according to the statement. The Karbala Criminal Court convicted him under Article 4, Clause 1 and Article 2, Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 7 of the 2005 Counter-Terrorism Law No. 13, applying Article 132/2 of the Penal Code. Judges cited the defendant's involvement in ISIS activities and preparations to target pilgrims as the basis for the verdict. Officials said security measures around religious visitation periods in Iraq will continue to be reinforced. No further details on the defendant or the disrupted plot were immediately released.