Friday marked the second day of the trial against the IS fighter, who stands accused of terrorism and murder, among other charges.

The Portuguese national, who lived in Luxembourg until 2014, was not present at the court in Luxembourg City – his current whereabouts are unknown. However, prosecutors believe he is likely still in Kurdish custody.

The second day of the trial focused mainly on Duarte’s radicalisation and his time in Syria and Iraq.

Investigating judges retraced his movements from spring 2014, when he first came to the attention of the judicial police, to his capture nearly five years later by Kurdish fighters in Syria. His radicalisation had begun several years earlier, mainly online. In August 2014, then 27 years old, he left Luxembourg for Syria to join the so-called Islamic State, where he began training as an IS fighter.

On Friday morning, the court reviewed exchanges between Duarte and his mother during that period, as well as his social media activity. He made no attempt to hide his admiration for IS, and played a central role in producing the group’s media propaganda. The peak of his involvement appears to have been his participation in the execution of five Iraqi Kurds in early 2016 in Mosul, Iraq. According to the prosecution, Duarte is not just responsible for the death of one detainee, but all five.

Investigators say there is no doubt he gave the orders and led the execution, as shown in an IS propaganda video. In a 2019 interview with RTL, Duarte denied being the person seen in the footage – one of the few times he has spoken to the media since his arrest that same year. He has also had no contact with his family since 2020.

A final verdict is expected on 14 July.