One man has been jailed for a year, four months suspended, and a second sent to a psychiatric hospital for planning to go to Syria to take part in jihad or holy war, Nos television reports

The court ruled that preparing to go to Syria, such as buying a plane ticket and collecting money, can be seen as preparation for murder. In turn, this means preparing to go to Syria and take part in jihad is punishable by law and a terrorist action, Nos television quoted the court as saying.

The court ruling is significant for the public prosecution department because until now there had been no jurisprudence on the issue. The ruling also has implications for other young men who plan to go or have gone to Syria, Nos said.

The public prosecution department also hopes the ruling will have a deterrent effect on other potential fighters.

Terrorism

The Dutch counter terrorism office estimates around 100 young men have gone to Syria to support the rebels against president Assad. The organisation warned that those who return could be more prone to take terrorist action on Dutch soil.

The public prosecution department had urged the court to jail Omar H for three years. During a search of his house police also found 10 metres of fuses, one kilo of aluminium powder and a number of dvds with jihadist material.

He had been released from jail pending his trial but was picked up in a train in Germany on his way to Istanbul, Nos television said.

On Tuesday it emerged two other Dutch men from Arnhem had been arrested in Germany en route for Syria.