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German Judges Threatened for Prosecuting Terrorists | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Thomas Kutschaty


Cologne, Germany- German judge Barbara Havliza, who is one of the three judges in the Supreme Court of North Rhine, said that she and her coworkers are receiving threats on the internet because they are carrying out their duties in the courts established to prosecute terrorists.

The judge’s statement came after Minister of Justice of the Land North Rhine-Westphalia Thomas Kutschaty called for financial support from the Federal government due to the ministry’s inability to cover the costs of established cases against terrorism suspects and those returning from the fight in Syria and Iraq.

Kutschaty noted that his ministry is paying tens of thousands of euros only for translators in some cases.

Moreover, Havliza said that she earned the enmity of terrorists, especially ISIS, because of her work in the third court’s chamber, which is specialized in cases related to terrorists.

Havliza led cases against more than seven terror suspects, who were sentenced to prison time after being convicted of the charges against them.

She also issued many ban lawsuits against organizations accused of providing logistical support for terrorists and inciting division between people and religions.

The judge added that the police are watching her house, and she set up alarm devices throughout her house to protect her family.

In addition to that, Havliza pointed out that the court’s chambers in the capital city are led by a maximum of five judges, yet the third chamber, which is specialized in prosecuting terrorists, currently include 22 judges.

For his part, Peter Frank from the Public Prosecution in North Rhine- Westphalia, talked about 136 cases against 199 accused of terrorism in the state. Fifty of those 139 cases, he said, are against terrorists who returned from Syria and Iraq.

On the other hand, the Federal Public Prosecution Office in Karlsruhe is handling 135 cases against around 200 accused of terrorism.