A military court in northern Somalia has sentenced six Moroccan nationals to death on terrorism charges, prosecutors and court officials told VOA.

A judge at the Bosaso town court sentenced nine suspects, including seven foreigners, on Thursday.

“Six Moroccans convicted of being members of Islamic State militants face the death penalty,” Colonel Ali Ibrahim Osman, the court’s deputy chairman, told VOA’s Somali service. He said one Ethiopian and one The Somalis were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the court found another Somali defendant not guilty.

Osman said foreign fighters are accused of training with Islamic State at bases in the Kalmiskat mountains in Somalia’s northeastern region.

“They came to Somalia to support ISIS and to cause destruction and bloodshed,” he said.

Speaking through a court interpreter and their lawyers, the accused foreigners said they were unfortunately misled about training with the group and wanted to be deported to their home countries, arguing that they surrendered voluntarily to security forces.

Osman said the court had communicated with relatives of the defendants, provided them with translators and had lawyers representing them.

“After the conclusion of all court proceedings, including hearings and the presentation of evidence against these people, the court rendered its judgment,” Osman said. “But they can appeal within 30 days, otherwise the judgment will be enforced.”

“Moroccans have admitted in court that they are members of the Islamic State for two years,” Osman said.

It was unclear whether witnesses supporting the prosecution’s case would testify.

The Ottomans identified these Moroccans as Mohammed Hassan, Ahmed Najivi, Khalid Lata, Mohammed Binou Mohammed Ahmed, Ridwan Abdelkader. Osmani and Ahmed Hussein Ibrahim.