️ A Berlin court sentenced a 20-year-old Syrian national to 13 years in prison on Thursday for a stabbing attack on a Spanish tourist at the German capital's Holocaust memorial in February 2025. The court convicted him of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, and attempted membership of a terrorist organization.

️ During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the defendant had "internalized IS ideology, rejected the Western way of life," and was "convinced that a holy war against infidels must be waged worldwide." The court's presiding judge, Doris Husch, stated he had committed the crime "in the name of the Islamic State (IS) group."

️ Ahead of the trial, the court said in a statement that the defendant had intended to "target a person of the Jewish faith." The 20-year-old confessed to the crime during the trial, saying he was motivated by his radicalization and belief he was acting with a religious mission. According to his lawyer, he told the court, "My shame is too deep, I ask for forgiveness."

️ As he was 19 at the time of the attack, the judges had to decide whether to try him under juvenile or adult law. Germany has a special system for offenders aged 18-20. They decided to treat him as an adult, based on his emotional and psychological maturity at the time.

️ The attack occurred merely days before Germany's 2025 general election, which was largely shaped by an anti-migration campaign that was further inflamed by a string of coinciding deadly attacks by migrants. Since the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad in December 2024, there have been growing calls from some politicians to send Syrian refugees home. Germany is home to some 1 million Syrians, most of whom arrived to escape the civil war that dragged on for over a decade.

️ Last December, Germany's conservative-led government deported a convicted criminal to Syria for the first time since 2011. This followed months of talks with Syria's interim government, highlighting the ongoing challenges in managing migration and security policies.

Source: www.dw.com