France equalizes sentences: eighteen female jihadists to be tried in 2026

Published on June 06, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

French justice has announced the prosecution of 18 women who traveled to Syria to join the Islamic State. Until now, they usually received lighter sentences, but in 2026 they will face the same court and the same convictions as men. The change in criteria seeks to eliminate differences in treatment in terrorism cases.

French courtroom with panoramic view, 18 female silhouettes in black veils seated in rows of defendant benches, a robed judge elevated holding a wooden gavel during sentencing, lawyers with open blue folders on oak tables, security guards with headphones and judicial police armbands, French flag waving on a metal flagpole behind the bench, cold overhead light illuminating the judge's stern face while the defendants remain motionless, realistic cinematic style, high-definition photography, rough texture of wood and metal, marked shadows, tense and solemn atmosphere, symmetrical composition with depth of field.

The judicial algorithm and parity in sentencing ⚖️

This legal shift recalls a computer system updating its filtering rules: previously, women passed through a low-priority node; now they enter the same processing loop. Prosecutors have recalibrated the crime database, equating variables such as travel, affiliation, and combat. The final sentence will be a binary output: guilty or innocent, with no gender distinction in the penal code.

All-inclusive trip with a return to the dock ✈️

It seems the jihadist travel agency has lost its discounted women's section. Previously, female clients received VIP treatment in the courts, but now the tourist package includes the same return seat as the gentlemen. The special one-way flight offer no longer applies; the forced return comes with an electronic bracelet and a full trial. What a bargain.