Prosecutors seek life term for French jihadist over Syria executions

Vilus, 30, is facing charges of belonging to a terrorist group, heading a group of Islamic State fighters and "aggravated murder" between 2013 and 2015.

Public prosecutor Guillaume Michelin asked the court for a life sentence, with no possibility of parole for 22 years.

Michelin said Vilus "hasn't changed one bit" since his time with the Islamic State.

"All the steps in the accused's journey are interlocked with the construction of the caliphate," said the prosecutor, referring to the Islamist-ruled area that IS wanted to carve out in Syria and Iraq.

"It is your responsibility to put a definite end to the bloodshed," he told the court.

Investigators suspect Vilus of being part of the "Al-Muhajireen" (the immigrants) brigade, a squadron that tortured and carried out summary executions, which he denies.

Vilus is also accused of supervising executions as a member of the religious police in the north-eastern Syrian town Ash Shaddadi, close to the Iraqi border.

In a 2015 video published by the Islamic State's media department, a man alleged to be Vilus is two metres away as two kneeling and blindfolded prisoners – one belonging to the Free Syrian Army rebel fighters and the other a member of Bashar al-Assad's army – are executed with a bullet to the head.

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His arrest and trial are being seen as a major coup for the French security services, as Vilus is believed to have known many French jihadists in Syria.

Vilus has admitted to being in contact with the man French secret services believe is the mastermind of the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris, Abdelhamid Abaaoud.