Spring Break
German trial sparks Muslim protests
Zohaib Ahmad
Issue date: 10/30/09 Section: News
|
Alex W. has been charged with murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm.
The trial of Alex W, a 29-year-old Russian-born German, opened Oct. 26, in the same courtroom Marwa El-Sherbini, the victim, was murdered in Dresden, Germany.
In July, the defendant had been in court to appeal a fine for calling Sherbini a "terrorist" and an "Islamist."
Prosecuters said he then proceeded to attack Sherbini with a smuggled 7-inch kitchen knife, stabbing her at least 16 times, according to the BBC.
Sherbini's husband, Elwy Ali Okaz attempted to shield his wife but was stabbed and then accidently shot in the leg by a security guard who thought Okaz was the attacker.
"[Alex W. had] continued to stab her when she was already lying on the floor," Okaz said at Monday's trial.
According to the BBC, Sherbini, three months pregnant with her second child, bled to death in full view of her husband and her three-year old son.
Many Muslim leaders accused German officials of "Islamophobia" for being slow in condemning the killer, according to the BBC.
The German authorities were also blamed for having a lack of concern regarding the incident, according to the Associated Press.
"It's good that he's on trial. [The German officials] should not have taken so long. They are being a bit racist," Kritika Katiyar, a sophomore biomedical engineering major, said.
After Sherbini's death, mass protests occurred in Iran while thousands attended her funeral in Egypt.
Since Sherbini wore a headscarf, she was dubbed "the martyr of the Hijab," according to the BBC.
"Germany should be more proactive in dealing with 'Islamophobia.' If they are taking to long in dealing with this thing, then something is up," Jonathan Hellmer, a sophomore business major, said.
As written by the Associated Press, many protests were due to what Muslims regarded as a lack of concern by German officials and the rest of the Western World.
Axel Koehler, president of the German Central Council of Muslims, said the community he represents is expecting a "strong conviction."
"We're following the trial with great interest, in particular because our women and girls are afraid and already feel discriminated against," Koehler said.
According to the BBC, the trial is expected to conclude by Nov. 11.
Be the first to comment on this story