https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/thue...afghane-prozess-amtsgericht-christus-100.html
A 26-year-old Afghan has had to answer to the Nordhausen district court since Wednesday. Apparently for religious reasons, he is said to have destroyed a valuable figure of Christ in the Frauenberg church in Nordhausen.
The trial of the destroyed figure of Christ in the Frauenberg Church began on Wednesday in front of the district court in Nordhausen. A 26-year-old Afghan man is accused.
At the end of October last year, he is said to have cleared out church inventory, torn and damaged the valuable figure of Christ from the wall and broken an altarpiece. He is now charged with property damage and trespassing. According to the indictment, the damage amounts to 2,300 euros. The Christ figure is currently being restored.
Church cleared out in Nordhausen: court process interrupted
After almost an hour, however, the process was suspended. District judge Iris Kasch-Böse wants to question more witnesses and view files. The criminal responsibility of the accused may also have to be examined.
Defender Marko Siebold had previously stated that his client had confessed to the crime. However, his motivation is unclear. According to Siebold, the 26-year-old did not act on purpose, but out of his faith and had a problem with the figure of Christ in the Frauenberg Church. Siebold explains that he doesn’t see the injustice of what he did.
Prosecutors are investigating other crimes
The 26-year-old Afghan has been in Germany for almost seven years. By 2020, he had a job as a cleaner. He doesn’t know why he was suddenly fired after three years. In the meantime, he is only tolerated as an asylum seeker, there is a legally binding deportation notice.
Because there was trouble with the neighbors, he had to move two months ago. The public prosecutor’s office in Mühlhausen is investigating four other cases against him for damage to property: in one case, he is said to have thrown stones at a passing car, and in three other cases he damaged the neighbors’ apartment doors.
Pastor Müller: Irritations, resentment and sadness
Meanwhile, the Protestant community is eagerly awaiting the return of the restored figure of Christ, says Pastor Klemens Müller. It was rescued from the destroyed church after bombing raids in 1945, which is why it is so valuable.
According to Müller, the incident in the fall caused irritation, resentment and sadness. Something like this could also be worked through in a negotiation. Shortly after the incident, there was a joint prayer service with the Afghan community.
“That was a very big gesture because it’s also about future cooperation,” said Müller. A strong sign of people who have apologized for something they didn’t do. Müller was invited as a witness in the trial on Wednesday, but was able to leave without testifying.
A 26-year-old Afghan has had to answer to the Nordhausen district court since Wednesday. Apparently for religious reasons, he is said to have destroyed a valuable figure of Christ in the Frauenberg church in Nordhausen.
The trial of the destroyed figure of Christ in the Frauenberg Church began on Wednesday in front of the district court in Nordhausen. A 26-year-old Afghan man is accused.
At the end of October last year, he is said to have cleared out church inventory, torn and damaged the valuable figure of Christ from the wall and broken an altarpiece. He is now charged with property damage and trespassing. According to the indictment, the damage amounts to 2,300 euros. The Christ figure is currently being restored.
Church cleared out in Nordhausen: court process interrupted
After almost an hour, however, the process was suspended. District judge Iris Kasch-Böse wants to question more witnesses and view files. The criminal responsibility of the accused may also have to be examined.
Defender Marko Siebold had previously stated that his client had confessed to the crime. However, his motivation is unclear. According to Siebold, the 26-year-old did not act on purpose, but out of his faith and had a problem with the figure of Christ in the Frauenberg Church. Siebold explains that he doesn’t see the injustice of what he did.
Prosecutors are investigating other crimes
The 26-year-old Afghan has been in Germany for almost seven years. By 2020, he had a job as a cleaner. He doesn’t know why he was suddenly fired after three years. In the meantime, he is only tolerated as an asylum seeker, there is a legally binding deportation notice.
Because there was trouble with the neighbors, he had to move two months ago. The public prosecutor’s office in Mühlhausen is investigating four other cases against him for damage to property: in one case, he is said to have thrown stones at a passing car, and in three other cases he damaged the neighbors’ apartment doors.
Pastor Müller: Irritations, resentment and sadness
Meanwhile, the Protestant community is eagerly awaiting the return of the restored figure of Christ, says Pastor Klemens Müller. It was rescued from the destroyed church after bombing raids in 1945, which is why it is so valuable.
According to Müller, the incident in the fall caused irritation, resentment and sadness. Something like this could also be worked through in a negotiation. Shortly after the incident, there was a joint prayer service with the Afghan community.
“That was a very big gesture because it’s also about future cooperation,” said Müller. A strong sign of people who have apologized for something they didn’t do. Müller was invited as a witness in the trial on Wednesday, but was able to leave without testifying.
