Germany in Brief

Frankfurt Terrorism Trial Continues

In the final phase of a Frankfurt trial, attorneys for Salim Boukhari, one of three Algerians accused of planning to explode a bomb at a Christmas market in Strasbourg, France in 2000, demanded their client receive a sentence of “far less than ten years” in jail. State prosecutors say Boukhari deserves a prison sentence of 12 and a half years, the highest they have called for in the case. Defense lawyer Rainer Koch said that it had not been adequately established that the four men intended to attack the lively Christmas market instead of a synagogue that would theoretically have been empty of people at the time. The other men accused of the planned bombing presented their defenses on Feb. 21. Three of the four have confessed to preparing the attack. The court is expected to pronounce its verdict on March 10.

Churches Admonished not to Hastily Label Sects

Churches may only issue warnings about what they believe to be sects after carefully examining their allegations, the Federal Court of Justice decided on Monday. A psychotherapist had accused a Catholic archdiocese representative of publicly defaming him and causing him financial hardship, although the expert on sects had neither spoken to him nor thoroughly examined the therapist’s work. The Catholic expert had dubbed the psychotherapist -- who developed a therapy involving riding horses -- a “sect leader.” On numerous occasions over years the church representative maintained in articles and broadcasts the psychotherapist led a sect, which the latter denies. The court ruled that Catholic and Protestant churches are responsible for harmful allegations made by their employees and awarded the psychotherapist and a colleague a small amount of the millions of euros in damages they had claimed.

Prison for Online Peeping Toms

The Free Democratic Party has proposed an amendment to the German criminal code that would outlaw taking pictures, filming or distributing images without the subject’s consent. Internet users too would be liable for prosecution for peeping with the help of “technical means.” If the amendment is passed, offenders could be punished with up to two years in jail.

Risks Too High on Future Munich-Berlin Train Route Say Experts

Plans for a rebuilt train route between Nuremberg and Erfurt do not meet safety regulations according to experts. A spokesman for the Munich interior ministry said on Tuesday, passenger and freight trains moving at high speeds may crash when passing in tunnels due to the deficiencies. State interior ministries in Bavaria and Thuringia have called for the two sets of tracks to be divided by a wall or a separate tube. German Rail, however, is sticking to its plans, which were approved by the Federal Office for Railways in 1995, two years before new safety regulations came into effect. A rail company spokesman assured, “We will see to it that encounters between passenger and freight trains are ruled out.” The Federal Office for Railways stated that German Rail successfully prevents trains from meeting on other stretches and should be able to do so on the Nuremberg-Erfurt route as well. The new construction, which is meant to be completed in 10-15 years, will shorten travel time between Munich and Berlin from six to three hours.