Three Syrian brothers are being tried for attacking Syrian tourists
The Stuttgart Regional Court is preparing to issue its ruling against three brothers from a large Syrian family, after their involvement in a violent brawl and stabbing several people in the pedestrian area in downtown Stuttgart. The incident dates back to June of last year, when the brothers, who were 17, 23, and 27 years old at the start of the trial, attacked a number of tourists – all of whom were also of Syrian nationality – and inflicted serious injuries on them.
The public prosecutor described the incident as attempted murder coupled with three cases of serious bodily harm, and demanded a prison sentence of 7.5 years for the older brother, and five years for each of the others. In contrast, the defense lawyers requested the acquittal of the defendants, pointing out that what happened was merely a fight and self-defense. One of the defendants explained that his sister was injured during the fight, which led him to pull a knife from his bag to threaten others, and as a result of his drug use, he panicked and stabbed one of his opponents.
The case has sparked widespread political controversy in Germany regarding violence among migrants and immigration policies. The accused family is known to the police and judiciary in Stuttgart, with over 150 reports, cases, and convictions recorded against them, ranging from serious bodily harm, theft, and human trafficking to resisting police and violating weapon laws. Three of the accused's siblings are currently serving prison sentences in other cases.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, all family members hold Syrian nationality and arrived in Germany between 2015 and 2020. They either enjoy refugee protection or subsidiary protection, which prevents their return to Syria, despite not having full asylum rights.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice in Baden-Württemberg clarified that the deportation of these individuals was not possible due to existing residence rights and a deportation ban, in addition to the fact that deportations to Syria have been practically unfeasible in recent years. The case has raised widespread concern among local authorities, who believe that the continued presence of this family in the city poses a threat to the security of Stuttgart residents.