French mom jailed for 10 years for spurring on jihadist son

Christine Riviere, 51, helped young women travel to Syria, where her son was fighting in the ranks of IS, in bid to help him find a bride

By AFP 6 October 2017, 7:42 pm
In this photo released on Jan. 31, 2014 by a militant website, members of the Islamic State group, left, distribute niqabs, enveloping black robes and veils that leave only the eyes visible, to Iraqi women in Mosul, northern Iraq. (Militant website via AP, File)

PARIS, France — A French woman who traveled three times to Syria in support of her jihadist son was given a 10-year jail sentence on Friday after being convicted of being part of a terrorist conspiracy.

Christine Riviere, 51, was sentenced for her “unfailing commitment” to jihad and for helping a number of young women travel to Syria as part of attempts to find a bride for her son, Tyler Vilus.

It was the maximum sentence possible.

Vilus travelled to Syria to fight alongside the Islamic State group.

Riviere, who has been nicknamed “Mama Jihad” in the French press, visited him three times in 2013 and 2014. She told the court she feared he would not return home. She was arrested in July 2014 as she was preparing a fourth visit.

Vilus was arrested a year later in Turkey, from where he was extradited to France.

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