A French jihadist close to the brothers behind the 2015 massacre at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment.

Peter Cherif, 42, had been on trial in Paris since mid-September for "belonging to a criminal terrorist association" while fighting for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in Yemen from 2011 to 2018.

During that time he is suspected of training his Paris childhood friend Cherif Kouachi, who along with his brother Said perpetrated the January 7, 2015 massacre at Charlie Hebdo's offices in the French capital -- for which AQAP later claimed responsibility.

The trial judge sentenced Cherif to life behind bars, with a minimum of 22-years to be served.

The president of the court said the decision had been taken "in view of the seriousness of the acts" for which Cherif was convicted.

Prosecutors had called him the "architect" of the first in a string of attacks carried out by radical Islamists that hit France in the late 2010s.

The 12 killings at the magazine shocked the world and led to an international outpouring of political and popular support under the motto "Je suis Charlie" ("I am Charlie").

Cherif also was accused of being part of a criminal gang that held three French aid workers hostage for five months in Yemen in 2011.

Calling the accused a "jihadist through-and-through" who was the "cornerstone of planning" for the Charlie Hebdo attack, prosecutors on Wednesday had requested a life sentence.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-on-irans-hit-list-viral-poster-featuring-israeli-terrorists-fuels-speculations-764265">Bibi on Iran’s hit list? Poster featuring 'Israeli terrorists' fuels rumours</a>

Cherif declined to answer questions throughout most of the trial.

But he admitted standing guard over the aid workers and serving as an interpreter between them and Yemeni Al-Qaeda members.

Cherif consistently denied playing any role in the attack on Charlie Hebdo or knowing it would happen.

Prosecutors believe he was in on the plan and remained in contact with Cherif Kouachi once the attacker returned to France.

"I feel like I've taken part in a rigged match," Cherif's defence lawyer Nabil El Ouchikli said on Thursday, pointing out that the defendant was not charged with complicity in the Charlie Hebdo attack.

He argued that prosecutors had resorted to the catch-all charge of terrorist association because "they didn't have the proof" for specific offences.

Cherif himself on Thursday said that he had "nothing to add" after his representatives' closing arguments.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

A French jihadist close to the brothers behind the 2015 massacre at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment. Peter Cherif, 42, had been on trial in Paris since mid-September for "belonging to a criminal terrorist association" while fighting for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in Yemen from 2011 to 2018.

A French jihadist close to the brothers behind the 2015 massacre at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment. Peter Cherif, 42, had been on trial in Paris since mid-September for "belonging to a criminal terrorist association" while fighting for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in Yemen from 2011 to 2018. During that time he is suspected of training his Paris childhood friend Cherif Kouachi, who along with his brother Said perpetrated the January 7, 2015 massacre at Charlie Hebdo's offices in the French capital -- for which AQAP later claimed responsibility. The trial judge sentenced Cherif to life behind bars, with a minimum of 22-years to be served. The president of the court said the decision had been taken "in view of the seriousness of the acts" for which Cherif was convicted. Prosecutors had called him the "architect" of the first in a string of attacks carried out by radical Islamists that hit France in the late 2010s. The 12 killings at the magazine shocked the world and led to an international outpouring of political and popular support under the motto "Je suis Charlie" ("I am Charlie"). Cherif also was accused of being part of a criminal gang that held three French aid workers hostage for five months in Yemen in 2011. Calling the accused a "jihadist through-and-through" who was the "cornerstone of planning" for the Charlie Hebdo attack, prosecutors on Wednesday had requested a life sentence. Also read: Bibi on Iran’s hit list? Poster featuring 'Israeli terrorists' fuels rumours Cherif declined to answer questions throughout most of the trial. But he admitted standing guard over the aid workers and serving as an interpreter between them and Yemeni Al-Qaeda members. Cherif consistently denied playing any role in the attack on Charlie Hebdo or knowing it would happen. Prosecutors believe he was in on the plan and remained in contact with Cherif Kouachi once the attacker returned to France. "I feel like I've taken part in a rigged match," Cherif's defence lawyer Nabil El Ouchikli said on Thursday, pointing out that the defendant was not charged with complicity in the Charlie Hebdo attack. He argued that prosecutors had resorted to the catch-all charge of terrorist association because "they didn't have the proof" for specific offences. Cherif himself on Thursday said that he had "nothing to add" after his representatives' closing arguments. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

French jihadist linked to Charlie Hebdo massacre gets life sentence after long trial

The wife of French jihadist Jean-Michel Clain told AFP Tuesday in Syria that her husband was killed last month after a coalition strike killed his brother Fabien, another notorious jihadist.

"The drone killed my brother-in-law and then the mortar killed my husband," Dorothee Maquere said at a screening area after exiting the Islamic State group's last pocket in Baghouz.

Fabien Clain, 41, gained notoriety after voicing an audio recording claiming responsibility for the November 2015 attacks in Paris, when IS jihadists slaughtered 129 people in coordinated attacks at restaurants and bars around the French capital.

He was killed in a coalition drone strike last month in Baghouz, the village in eastern Syria where diehard IS jihadists are making a bloody last stand.

His younger brother Jean-Michel, 38, was wounded in the same February 20 coalition on Baghouz but survived, Maquere said. But he died in a mortar attack two days later.

She was speaking at a screening centre run by the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Kurdish-led force that has spearheaded the military operation against the last dreg of the IS "caliphate".

She was among a group of several hundred civilians who exited the tiny besieged enclave, where a dwindling number of jihadist fighters were refusing to surrender.

Maquere was wearing a full black veil and was surrounded by her five surviving children. She lost three other children in the bombardment.

While Fabien was seen as a senior propagandist among the foreign fighters ranks of IS, his younger brother was known as a singer of the "nasheed" chants heard on some of the videos released by the organisation. All options available if there is another terrorist strike: Official sources

Sources in the Indian government have said "all options will be available" if the country is hit by another terrorist strike.&nbsp;

The sources told the news agency PTI that India will insist on "concrete steps" by Pakistan to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on its soil and that since Balakot, India has been "trying to build maximum pressure on Pakistan".&nbsp;

Pakistan arrests Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar's brother

Pakistan has arrested the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar.&nbsp;

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi said Tuesday at a press conference that Mufti Abdur Rauf had been arrested.&nbsp;

Pakistan says it stopped Indian submarine from entering its waters

Pakistan has stopped an Indian submarine from entering its waters, the navy said Tuesday, as tensions continue to run high between the nuclear-armed foes.

The development came days after a rare aerial dogfight between India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir ignited fears of all-out conflict, with world powers rushing to urge restraint.

UK Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt says 'reasonably positive' signs from EU over Brexit deal changes

Foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said on Tuesday the European Union was giving "reasonably positive" signals about giving Britain changes to Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal which could help it get parliamentary backing.

Live score: Finch, Khawaja fall in quick succession, Australia 83/2 after 15.3 overs

India all-out for 250 in 48.2 overs. India captain Virat Kohli top-scored with 116 off 120 balls while Vijay Shankar made 46 of 41.

The wife of French jihadist Jean-Michel Clain told AFP Tuesday in Syria that her husband was killed last month after a coalition strike killed his brother Fabien, another notorious jihadist.

The wife of French jihadist Jean-Michel Clain told AFP Tuesday in Syria that her husband was killed last month after a coalition strike killed his brother Fabien, another notorious jihadist. "The drone killed my brother-in-law and then the mortar killed my husband," Dorothee Maquere said at a screening area after exiting the Islamic State group's last pocket in Baghouz. Fabien Clain, 41, gained notoriety after voicing an audio recording claiming responsibility for the November 2015 attacks in Paris, when IS jihadists slaughtered 129 people in coordinated attacks at restaurants and bars around the French capital. He was killed in a coalition drone strike last month in Baghouz, the village in eastern Syria where diehard IS jihadists are making a bloody last stand. His younger brother Jean-Michel, 38, was wounded in the same February 20 coalition on Baghouz but survived, Maquere said. But he died in a mortar attack two days later. She was speaking at a screening centre run by the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Kurdish-led force that has spearheaded the military operation against the last dreg of the IS "caliphate". She was among a group of several hundred civilians who exited the tiny besieged enclave, where a dwindling number of jihadist fighters were refusing to surrender. Maquere was wearing a full black veil and was surrounded by her five surviving children. She lost three other children in the bombardment. While Fabien was seen as a senior propagandist among the foreign fighters ranks of IS, his younger brother was known as a singer of the "nasheed" chants heard on some of the videos released by the organisation. All options available if there is another terrorist strike: Official sources Sources in the Indian government have said "all options will be available" if the country is hit by another terrorist strike. The sources told the news agency PTI that India will insist on "concrete steps" by Pakistan to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on its soil and that since Balakot, India has been "trying to build maximum pressure on Pakistan". Pakistan arrests Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar's brother Pakistan has arrested the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi said Tuesday at a press conference that Mufti Abdur Rauf had been arrested. Pakistan says it stopped Indian submarine from entering its waters Pakistan has stopped an Indian submarine from entering its waters, the navy said Tuesday, as tensions continue to run high between the nuclear-armed foes. The development came days after a rare aerial dogfight between India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir ignited fears of all-out conflict, with world powers rushing to urge restraint. UK Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt says 'reasonably positive' signs from EU over Brexit deal changes Foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said on Tuesday the European Union was giving "reasonably positive" signals about giving Britain changes to Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal which could help it get parliamentary backing. Live score: Finch, Khawaja fall in quick succession, Australia 83/2 after 15.3 overs India all-out for 250 in 48.2 overs. India captain Virat Kohli top-scored with 116 off 120 balls while Vijay Shankar made 46 of 41.

French jihadist Jean-Michel Clain killed in Syria, says wife

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French jihadist linked to Charlie Hebdo massacre gets life sentence after long trial

French jihadist Jean-Michel Clain killed in Syria, says wife