Hezbollah suspects face potential jail time spanning multiple years.

Terrorist Activities - Hezbollah suspects face potential jail time spanning multiple years.

In a recent trial in Germany, the federal prosecutor's office sought prison sentences for two defendants in Hamburg. A 50-year-old Lebanese man was suggested to serve five and a half years in jail, while a 56-year-old German-Lebanese man was proposed for a three-year sentence. The prosecution presented their case on May 30th, with defendants set to respond the following week. A verdict would potentially be rendered by the State Security Senate on June 28th.

The pair were nabbed simultaneously on May 10th in Lower Saxony's Aurich and Cuxhaven districts. The 50-year-old is said to have primarily looked after Lebanese associations up north, while the 56-year-old reportedly carried out international duties and was associated with an elite military unit. The former is also accused of being a regular preacher in Germany, having taken the podium at the controversial Al-Mustafa Community in Bremen back in 2022.

The Shiite-Islamist group known as Hezbollah ("Party of God") has been proscribed in Germany since April 2020, as per the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The organization is against the concept of worldwide peace and denies Israel's existence, aiming for its eradication. They view violence against civilians as an acceptable outcome of warfare. Established in 1982, Hezbollah is backed by Iran.

Emailed communications from the Lower Saxony Home Ministry, Bremen's Interior Senator, and the federal prosecutor's office provide more context.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior offers more information on Hezbollah's stance:

Bremen's Interior Senator echoes similar sentiments:

Another indictment-related press release was issued:

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1. The Office of the Attorney General in Germany was actively involved in the trial, seeking prison sentences for the two Hezbollah suspects.
2. The suspects, one Lebanese and one German-Lebanese, were arrested in May 2023 in Lower Saxony, specifically in Aurich and Cuxhaven districts.
3. The German Federal Ministry of the Interior has classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, citing their violation of international peace and denial of Israel's existence.
4. The 50-year-old Lebanese man, who previously preached in Bremen at the Al-Mustafa Community, was suggested to serve five and a half years in prison, while the 56-year-old German-Lebanese man was proposed for a three-year sentence.
5. The trial, which started with the prosecution's case presentation on May 30th, is set to conclude with a verdict from the State Security Senate on June 28th.
6. Terrorism-related activities and processes are closely monitored and addressed by multiple German authorities, including the federal prosecutor's office and various regional home ministries.

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