Trial of terror - Trial in Dresden - Iraqi defendant remains silent
Trial Terror Process against a 33-year-old Iraqi defendant refuses to make statements initially, his lawyer declared after reading the indictment. The General Prosecutor accuses the man of membership in a terrorist organization abroad. According to the indictment, he took the oath of allegiance to the Islamic State in 2013. Later, he allegedly participated in at least two IS combat missions and worked in various IS security apparatus units in northern Iraq as a secret police officer.
Gift from the former IS leader
According to the General Prosecutor's office, the man was monthly paid for his work. The indictment states that he received a one-time gift of 2000 US dollars and a Glock pistol from the former IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (1971-2019). The exact date he came to Germany is unclear. He last lived in an accommodation for asylum seekers in Freiberg. He was arrested there in November 2023. Currently, he is in remand prison.
The IS stands for murder, executions, and war crimes
The prosecution also addressed the background of the IS in the indictment, whose goal was the establishment of a caliphate in Iraq and parts of Syria and neighboring countries. The IS was founded to commit murder, assassinations, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, it was stated. Civilians were taken as collateral damage. Anyone who opposed the IS was considered an enemy of Islam. Thousands of fighters were reportedly under the command of a war minister. The Islamic State stands for suicide bombings, executions, torture, massacres of the civilian population, and attacks abroad. Gruesome executions were filmed and disseminated on the internet. In 2019, the IS was considered militarily defeated, but affiliates are still active, especially in West and Central Africa.
The trial relies on documents
The trial takes place at the State Protection Senate of the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Dresden. The presiding judge is Judge Hans Schlueter-Staats. The trial relies on documents. According to the presiding judge, there have been no negotiations for a plea agreement so far. Seven further hearings have been scheduled for the trial in a specifically converted room of the OLG. During the continuation on Tuesday, four witnesses are expected to be heard, including an employee of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
Since 2017, the OLG State Protection Senate has been handling Extremism and Terrorism proceedings in a specially converted cafeteria of a first reception center for refugees. There, around 20 trials have been ongoing, including particularly security-relevant proceedings with many defendants and corresponding defense attorneys.
- The defendant's lawyer mentioned that he refuses to make statements, despite being from the same country as former IS leader Abu Bakr al-Bagdadi, who allegedly gifted him 2000 US Dollars and a Glock pistol from his German-based hiding.
- As a member of the IS, the defendant participated in two combat missions in Iraq and worked in various security apparatus units, receiving regular payments from the organization.
- The IS, whose ultimate goal was the establishment of a caliphate in Iraq and parts of Syria, committed numerous atrocities, including murder, genocide, war crimes, and the brutal execution of civilians, many of which were documented and disseminated on the internet.
- The trial against the defendant is taking place at the State Protection Senate of the Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Dresden, Saxony, where Judge Hans Schlueter-States presides over the proceedings, which rely on a large amount of documentation.
- The trial is expected to continue for several hearings, with four witnesses scheduled to testify on Tuesday, including an employee from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
- Since 2017, the OLG State Protection Senate has been handling Extremism and Terrorism proceedings in a specially converted cafeteria, with around 20 trials ongoing, including many defendants and defense attorneys.
