Bosnia Charges Four with Trying to Join IS in Syria

Bosnian prosecutors on Friday charged four men suspected of planning to join the Islamic State group in Syria and organizing travel to that country.

The four, arrested in February, face charges of "illegal formation and joining foreign paramilitary and para-police groups," the national prosecutor's office said.

If found guilty they face up to 20 years in jail under a law adopted by the Balkans country last year.

Nevad Husidic, 26, and Merim Keserovic, 18, were arrested at Sarajevo airport while on their way to Turkey where they were to meet contacts who were to help them enter Syria.

The third suspect Husein Erdic, 33, was charged with having "organized" their travel "with his contacts in Turkey," the prosecutors said in a statement.

Midhat Trako, 67, was charged with financing the trip.

Some 200 Bosnian citizens have joined jihadist groups in Iraq or Syria, according to the national intelligence services quoted in local media. Almost 30 of them were killed and around 40 are said to have returned to Bosnia.

This is the second time that Bosnia has charged citizens with trying to recruit jihadists.

The first such trial opened in January against a radical Muslim cleric, Husein Bosnic, who was charged with inciting people to leave for Syria and Iraq to fight alongside Islamic militants.

Bosnia's Muslims make up 40 percent of the country's 3.8 million inhabitants, and the vast majority practice a moderate form of Islam.