02 September 2015

Islamist vigilantes face trial for 'Sharia police'

Lau, 34, is accused – with nine others – of infractions against the law on freedom of assembly over the group of high-vis-vest-wearing Islamists who declared that they would patrol the streets to police morals last September.

The German convert to Islam and leading fundamentalist preacher had declared himself to be one of the leaders of the group in a video published online.

Eleven of the group's members were prosecuted for unlawful assembly and wearing illegal uniforms in public shortly before Lau announced that he would re-brand his organization 'Pro Halal'.

But his actions had already created national outrage and prompted politicians to declare any system of parallel justice to be beyond the pale.

"Sharia law is not tolerated on German soil," Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said at the time. [The Local] Read more