[JURIST] The Criminal Court of Paris [official website, in French] sentenced nine men to prison on Friday for belonging to terrorist groups and plotting attacks against France, in violation of France’s terrorism law [text, in French]. Only two of the men were present for the hearing, the others being tried in absentia [Figaro report, in French]. All denied being fighters or having planned attacks.The men were sentenced to terms in prison [AP report] between two and nine years.

Authorities across the globe have been tracking down members and supporters of al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Earlier this month an Egyptian court sentenced Mohamed Badie to life in prison [JURIST report] for inciting violence “to achieve terrorist goals.” In June US Attorney General Eric Holder announced the revival of a task force [JURIST report] to combat domestic terrorism. In May Tunisia arrested eight suspected terrorists [JURIST report] who entered the country from Libya with the intention of assassinating Tunisian government officials.