A high-profile terrorism trial is set to unfold in early November at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, following one of the most extensive anti-terror investigations in the country’s French-speaking region. Two men of Albanian descent—one from Kosovo and the other a Swiss-Macedonian dual citizen—stand accused of supporting and financing Islamist terrorism, with ties to a radical group connected to the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).
Swiss media, particularly those in French, have widely covered this case due to its scale and the controversial details emerging from the investigation. Among the revelations is the allegation that approximately 10,000 euros were used to bribe Kosovar prosecutors to secure lighter sentences for two members of the group who had joined ISIS fighters in Syria and Iraq.
From Social Welfare to Terror Financing
According to Swiss prosecutors, the defendants financed their activities using funds illicitly obtained from Switzerland’s social welfare system. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office has charged both men, currently imprisoned in the canton of Vaud, with supporting terrorism and committing welfare fraud.
Over several years, the defendants allegedly diverted money meant for social aid into the hands of a radical Islamist network based in Kosovo. Between 2016 and 2022, the Swiss cell reportedly transferred between €64,000 and €78,000 to the Balkans, part of which was used to purchase weapons and, allegedly, to bribe legal officials.
The Rise of the “Brothers of Geneva”
One of the accused, a 37-year-old Kosovar living in Geneva, is said to have led a radical faction known as the “Frères de Genève” (Brothers of Geneva)—a branch of a Kosovar group called “Frères de Viti” (Brothers of Viti). Acting as “Emir,” he allegedly exerted strong ideological and organizational control over the cell.
The group’s ideology was described in court documents as “Salafist-jihadist,” closely aligned with ISIS doctrines. Investigators claim the group attracted around 30 followers in Geneva, including the Swiss convert Daniel D., who later joined ISIS in Syria and is believed to remain detained there.
Members of the “Brothers of Geneva” allegedly attempted to recruit young individuals, including a 14-year-old who refused their offer. The group is also accused of inviting radical Albanian-speaking imams to Switzerland—among them, Rexhep Memishi, known as an ideological mentor, who served prison time in North Macedonia for recruiting ISIS fighters.
Weapons Hidden and Propaganda Spread
Despite being small in number, the Geneva cell was reportedly well organized. Meetings were frequent, mandatory, and held under strict secrecy. Authorities discovered hidden microphones in the suspects’ vehicles during the 2021 investigation, revealing chilling ISIS chants sung by one of the men—even with his wife and children present.
Lyrics from the recordings referenced “streets filled with corpses” and “burning and vengeance,” according to investigators.
In Kosovo, associated members of the group allegedly buried four AK-47 rifles, a pistol, and about 3,000 rounds of ammunition inside a plastic barrel hidden in the mountains. The weapons were said to be part of a broader plan to seize control of a specific area of Kosovo and establish a local Islamic State governed by Sharia law. However, prosecutors note that no direct acts of violence have been proven so far.
Corruption and Fraud as Funding Tools
What makes this case particularly alarming is the alleged use of social insurance fraud to finance terrorism. The main defendant, a resident of Le Lignon in Geneva, reportedly received 54,000 CHF in illegal family benefits, claiming allowances for children who no longer lived in Switzerland.
The second defendant allegedly failed to report his job as a taxi driver while collecting 107,000 CHF in welfare payments. Both men are accused of faking car accidents to collect about 20,000 CHF from insurance companies and obtaining COVID-19 business loans worth 35,000 CHF through inflated revenue claims.
These funds, prosecutors say, were used not only to maintain the group’s operations but also to bribe Kosovar prosecutors with 10,000 euros, ensuring leniency for ISIS-affiliated fighters on trial in the Balkans.
Upcoming Trial and Potential Sentences
Both men have been detained for nearly three years and now face up to ten years in prison for “participation in a terrorist organization.” Their lawyers, Julien Gafner and Cécile Wendling, have declined to comment ahead of the trial but are expected to argue for acquittal on the terrorism-related charges.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office stated that if found guilty, the defendants would be required to repay the fraudulent funds and could face additional penalties to cover the 1.4 million CHF cost of the investigation.
A source close to one of the accused insists, “We deny that the Brothers of Viti are a terrorist organization,” highlighting the defense’s attempt to frame the case as one of religious activism rather than terrorism.
A Broader Reflection on Radicalization in Europe
This case underscores the ongoing challenges European authorities face in combating homegrown extremism—particularly among small, ideologically driven networks that use fraud and corruption to sustain their operations.
The Bellinzona trial will likely serve as a benchmark for how Switzerland handles complex cases involving both terror financing and systemic fraud. It also raises pressing questions about how social welfare systems across Europe can be exploited to fund extremist agendas.
As the court proceedings begin in November, all eyes will be on the Federal Criminal Court to see whether the prosecution can prove that the 10,000-euro bribe to Kosovar prosecutors was part of a deliberate, organized effort to protect ISIS-affiliated individuals—and whether justice can fully account for the blurred lines between ideology, corruption, and financial manipulation.