No. 51/2023
By decision of July 27, 2023 the 5th Senate for Criminal Matters (State Security Senate [Staatsschutzsenat]) of the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Frankfurt/Main opened the main proceedings against Deniz B. and admitted the Federal Public Prosecutor General‘s indictment dated March 16, 2023 for trial.
The Federal Public Prosecutor General accuses the defendant of three counts of membership of a foreign terrorist organization, in two cases in combination with war crimes against property and other rights. According to the indictment, Deniz B. is accused to have left Germany in Spring 2016 in order to travel to Syria via Turkey together with his wife, whom he married according to Islamic rite. Having reached Syria, both are said to have joined as members the foreign terrorist organization „Islamic State (IS)“. Shortly after that, the couple is supposed to have travelled to Mosul (Iraq), where the defendant received military training. Subsequently, as a member of an IS combat unit, the defendant is said to have performed guard duties and combat missions for the organization. Most recently, he is said to have held a responsible position in the field of logistics. For his work, Deniz B. allegedly received a monthly alimentation from the organization.
During his stay in Iraq, the defendant is supposed to have lived in different places where he moved into two residential buildings, one after another, provided to him and his wife by „IS“. The residential buildings had been placed under IS administration after the lawful residents had fled the approaching forces of the organization.
Since his arrest by Kurdish security forces in August 2017, the defendant had been in custody in Erbil (Northern Iraq) until his deportation to Germany. In the context of his re-entry into Germany, he was arrested on a warrant of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) dated March 13, 2022, and held in pre-trial detention. By order of the Higher Regional Court Frankfurt/Main dated March 31, 2023, the arrest warrant was suspended subject to conditions.
The main hearing will commence on Friday, December 15, 2023. The Senate will be composed of three judges. Continuation is scheduled for Friday, December 22, 2023, Monday, January 15, 2024, Friday, January 26, 2024, Friday, February 2, 2024, Friday, February 9, 2024, Friday, February 23, 2024, Friday, March 1, 2024 and Friday, March 8, 2024. All hearings will be held in Courtroom II of Court Building E, Hammelsgasse 1, Frankfurt/Main, starting beginning at 10 a.m.
Higher Regional Court (OLG) Frankfurt/Main, decision of July 27, 2023, Case No. 5 St 2/23
English version: deputy spokeswoman Dr. Kerstin Wierse