Moroccan woman receives jail term in Spain for attempting to join DAESH

Samira Yerou, a 36-year-old Moroccan woman who lived close to Barcelona was on Thursday sentenced to five years and two months in prison for attempting to join DAESH (the Islamic State) Spanish media reported.

Yerou was detained in Turkey in 2014 while attempting to travel to Syria with her three-year-old son.

She was given the sentence, which was less than the nine years in jail the prosecution had originally sought, after accepting the charges, asking forgiveness for her actions and stating that she intended to start a new life when she leaves prison.

"I want to get back my son, who I have not seen since I was arrested two years ago," she said of her child who is living with his father in the town of Rubi, just outside of Barcelona.

Yerou explained she had been persuaded to travel to Syria over social media sites and explained she had taken her son because he was "everything" to her.

She added that she had been fooled by the extremists after her husband left her and they had lied by telling her she would have a better life in Syria.

Yerou also said she had not gone to fight as she had no experience of using arms or explosives.

Yerou's lawyer told the court she "had repented of her mistake and now wants a simple and normal life with her son, just like any other mother."

He also highlighted she had co-operated with Spanish security forces following her arrest. Endit