Failed to Submit Deportation Petition by Ex-IS Leader from Germany
Abu Walaa's Courtroom Drama Continues
Düsseldorf, Germany (dpa) – The Iraqi former IS chief, Abu Walaa, walked into the courtroom with his parka's hood up and ankle cuffs on, guarded by eight officers. This 41-year-old convict, serving eleven and a half years for his role as an IS terrorist, has challenged his deportation from Germany.
The Administrative Court of Düsseldorf (Case No. 27 K 7349/23) dismissed his deportation claim, but the judge ruled the deportation interest outweighed national security concerns. Despite no evidence of a change in his IS stance or deradicalization, a risk of recurrence, and the priority of his seven children's well-being, Abu Walaa can still appeal.
Deportation, given the lack of diplomatic assurance from Iraq that he won't be executed, seems unlikely for now. The decision on his asylum follow-up application, to be served until May 2027, is still pending.
Hildesheim's Imam
Well-known as the imam of the mosque for the banned German-speaking Islamic Circle in Hildesheim, Abu Walaa has been in a deradicalization program for nearly two years. Recently, he distanced himself from jihadism. However, during the hearing, he was tight-lipped about his relationship with his children or his views on his crimes. His request for a postponement to await an expert's opinion was denied.
Arriving in Germany as an asylum seeker in 2001, he fathered seven children with two women and, until his 2016 arrest, promoted a salafist-jihadist ideology as an imam in Hildesheim, acting as a leading religious authority for IS in Germany. As a recruiter, he motivated young jihadists to travel or launch attacks.
Scandal and Regret?
Refusing to show remorse, Abu Walaa continued to claim his innocence for a long time while in custody, complaining about his right to multiple wives and seeing the trial against him as a show trial and himself as a victim of a judicial scandal, alleging a key witness lied.
His first wife claimed the imprisonment affected their children psychologically, while contact with his second wife and her children in Lower Saxony has almost ceased. The youth welfare office reported that his seven children, all German citizens, are well integrated and only speak German. A move to Iraq is unthinkable to them.
The court deemed the two-year deradicalization program too short for a credible change, even if he has distanced himself from IS and Al-Qaeda. In a Celle hearing in 2023, he admitted regret for his actions, claiming he had been following "the worst and most radical views" and saw himself as a victim, underestimating his actions, but now he has "woken up."
The Administrative Court confirmed that conditions for release might include daily check-ins with police, a smartphone ban, and Abu Walaa's lawyer argued that the smartphone ban hindered job search and rehabilitation. The daily check-ins prevented contact with his family in Lower Saxony. The representative of Viersen counters that Abu Walaa's children could visit him in North Rhine-Westphalia anytime.
Without speaking a word, Abu Walaa exited the court silently through a side door, after a four-hour hearing, waited for by the prisoner transport.
Legal Insights
Legal proceedings for individuals involved in terrorism typically involve investigations, trials, and appeals. Deportation requires cooperation from the destination country and might face challenges considering human rights concerns. International bodies may intervene if deportation poses potential inhumane treatment or human rights violations. For specific case details, seek recent news reports or official legal documents.
- "Abu Walaa's legal battle doesn't end with the Administrative Court's decision, as he can still appeal, potentially involving war-and-conflicts politics, crime-and-justice, and general-news, especially if international bodies intervene due to human rights concerns."
- "Amidst the politics surrounding war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and general-news, the social implication of the court's decision regarding Abu Walaa's deportation or asylum also raises questions about the rights of his seven children, who strongly oppose a move to Iraq."
