Fourteen months' imprisonment for nephew Mahmoud Al-Zein's relative, aged 42, affirmed by the court.
Interview with a Tough Talking Reporter and Berlin's Infamous Clan
In a shocking turn of events, a high-profile altercation left Spiegel-TV reporter, Thomas Heise, sporting a shiner. The culprit? None other than the nephew of Berlin's notorious crime kingpin, Fadi Al-Zein (42). The authorities didn't take kindly to this attack on press freedom and sentenced Al-Zein to 10 months in prison.
THE AL-ZEIN FAMILY. With various spellings and a mafia-like presence, the Al-Zein family has approximately 3000 members in Germany. This clan is infamous for their involvement in drugs, violence, fraud, weapons, money laundering, and extortion. The clan's patriarch, Mahmoud Al-Zein (66), nicknamed "The Godfather of Berlin" and "El Presidente," arrived in 1982 and was denied asylum. Despite numerous legal troubles, he's fathered nine children and amassed over 70 suspicions and 11 convictions between 2005 and 2021. A seven-year ban on residence in Germany was imposed, but he relocated to Turkey in February 2021.
THE INCIDENT. The altercation occurred on December 17, 2024, at a court hearing in which Mahmoud Al-Zein disputed his immigration ban's restriction from 7 to 4.5 years. Having lived in exile, he was now able to return to Germany from August 1, 2025.
After the hearing, Al-Zein's nephew lashed out against the Spiegel-TV reporter, causing a hematoma on Heise's left eye, headache, nausea, and potential skull-brain trauma.
HEISE'S ENCOUNTER WITH AL-ZEIN'S NEPHEW. At the trial, Al-Zein's nephew was convicted for intentional bodily harm. "It was just a reflex," he nonchalantly claimed. He has a long criminal record (20 convictions) and expressed remorse. However, Heise was not swayed by his apology, stating, "As I heard, you were planning to ambush me and take a swing at me!"
THE VERDICT. The prosecutor declared, "Whoever does something like this must also pay the price." Al-Zein was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Unimpressed by the verdict, he threatened, "I'll definitely appeal this decision."
Enrichment Data (Note: Fadi Al-Zein is not a widely recognized figure connected to the Al-Zein clan. The Al-Zein name is mentioned in relation to organized crime in Berlin, but information about Fadi Al-Zein is limited, and no verifiable details about his role within the clan are available.)
- The assault on Thomas Heise, a Spiegel-TV reporter, by Fadi Al-Zein, nephew of Berlin's notorious crime kingpin Mahmoud Al-Zein, echoed the Al-Zein family's history of violence and disregard for general-news reporters, a part of their infamous crime-and-justice activities.
- Amidst the Al-Zein family's deeply entrenched involvement in criminal activity, the latest court case, featuring the trial of Fadi Al-Zein for intentional bodily harm against journalist Thomas Heise, has sparked renewed concerns about press freedom and the clan's disregard for general-news reporting in Germany's politics.
