Continued jail terms for followers of the Islamist group, Caliphate State.
In accordance with the court's decree, these fellas were spreading the beliefs of the outlawed Islamic state, known as the Caliphate State, in a local mosque, defying the German authorities' ban on the said state. They were active all over the country, working to maintain unity within the Caliphate State.
Two of the suspects were making bank from selling goods to the Caliphate State and were collecting donations. The third one was handling the arranging of meetings for high-ranking officials.
About a year ago, the Landgericht Koblenz handed down probation sentences ranging from one year and two months to one year and six months to these three lads for breaking the association ban. However, in February, the Bundesgerichtshof overturned these judgments. The findings on their actions were kept, but fresh decisions had to be made regarding the sentences.
The Caliphate State association was prohibited in Germany back in 2001, due to their anti-democratic motives. This group was started by Metin Kaplan, who earned the moniker "Caliph of Cologne" and lived in Istanbul as an extremist. According to investigative bodies, the group aims to establish an Islamic state solely based on the Koran and Sharia.
Kaplan was slapped with a four-year prison sentence in 2000 for inciting public unrest and was kicked out of Germany to Turkey in 2004. He was sentenced to life in prison in Turkey but was released in 2016. It's forbidden to carry on with this association or establish substitute organizations in Germany due to the ban.
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The regional court in Koblenz, where the proceedings took place, announced that the suspended sentences handed down to the supporters of the Islamist group, Caliphate State, last year, have been suspended once again. This decision was made following an appeal by the Islamist group, which led the Bundesgerichtshof to overturn the previous judgments.
Again, the three men, who were found guilty of supporting the Caliphate State, will need to face the regional court in Koblenz for a retrial. The suspended sentences they received last year ranged from one year and two months to one year and six months.
The spokeswoman for the regional court in Koblenz indicated that new sentences would be handed down during the retrial. This time, the court will consider the ruling from the Bundesgerichtshof and the actions of the Islamists in light of Germany's ban on the Caliphate State.
The repeated court hearings for these supporters of the Caliphate State, which was banned in Germany due to anti-democratic motives, have once again brought into focus the activities of the Islamist group in Germany.
Even with the ongoing court proceedings, the Islamist group's aim to establish an Islamic state based on the Koran and Sharia continues to be a matter of concern for German authorities. The activities of this group, known for their support for the Caliphate State, have been under close scrutiny in Germany, especially among Islamists.
The suspended sentences for the supporters of the Caliphate State are a reflection of the ongoing struggle against Islamist extremism in Germany. The case serves as a reminder that efforts to uphold democratic values and prevent the establishment of an Islamic state remain a priority for German authorities.
