Terror Suspects to Have ID Cards to Travel Confiscated In Germany
Germany has approved a law that authorizes the confiscation of personal identification (ID) cards from suspected Muslim terrorists for up to three years, which was twice as long as originally planned.
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere expressed hope that the newly passed legislation will be able to deprive jihadists or those who want to join militants in the Middle East the freedom to travel within Europe.
"There is no panacea against terror, but we have an obligation to do everything in our power to reduce the danger of terrorist attacks and of Germans participating in them at home and abroad," Maiziere said.
German authorities already have the power to confiscate the passports of suspected extremists, but the new law will allow them to take the cards of people planning to join militants in Syria and Iraq.
Under existing legislation, Germany can seize passports to keep its citizens at home, but not the personal identity cards, which every German is obliged to carry at all times.
These ID cards alone allow Germans to gain entry to other European countries before passing through Turkey to reach the long border of Syria.
But under the proposed rule, those whose papers are withdrawn would be given a new ID card that bans them from traveling outside Germany.
The original draft law was to confiscate the regular ID cards for only 18 months.
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said the proposed law will also help protect against terror attacks similar to the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris last week.
"We must be determined in protecting the free democratic order with all constitutional means against international terrorism, against fanaticism, against radicalization," he said.
The German cabinet is set to ratify the new law on Wednesday, Seibert added.
According to Reuters, German officials believe that there are at least 550 Germans who have traveled to join the fighting in Syria.
About 180 are believed to have returned to Germany, with authorities consequently attempting to carry out criminal investigations into their activities while in Syria.