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A pilgrimage to Pakistan made a 29-year-old Moroccan a threat in the eyes of German security authorities. He was forced to leave for Morocco, where he was arrested and tortured.
By Marcel Kolvenbach, SWR
After the joint investigation of “Spiegel” and the ARD-Politikmagazins Mainz report The suspicion is confirmed that the German security authorities could be partly responsible for the seven years in prison and torture of the Moroccan-German Mohamed Hajib in Morocco. “The German authorities have destroyed my life,” says Hajib and has therefore brought an action against the Federal Republic of Germany together with his lawyer.
It demands at least 1.5 million euros in damages. The 39-year-old father of the family cannot work, he is severely disabled. Forensic medical reports and photographs document the consequences of severe torture in Morocco.
The case of Hajib of Duisburg is reminiscent in many respects of the incidents that were the subject of the BND’s so-called investigative committee. It involved illegal activities in the war on terror after September 11, 2001, the capture and torture of German citizens by foreign secret services, such as the Murat Kurnaz case.
Affiliated with the Sunni movement
Like Kurnaz, Hajib had joined the Sunni “Tablighi Jamaat” (TJ), a Muslim awakening and proselytizing movement with around twelve million followers around the world. A mission trip activity, especially in Pakistan and India, is characteristic of JW followers. Hajib said that it was precisely on that missionary trip that Hajib set out in the summer of 2009. From this point on, the German authorities listed him as a threat. Like Kurnaz eight years earlier, Hajib was arrested on October 1, 2009 during a routine check in Pakistan.
A momentous contact
During his four-month detention in Pakistan, the German embassy assumed consular support. The German embassy in Islamabad spoke of a “politically explosive case” in an email. The questionnaires repeatedly focused on the reason for his trip and, above all, on the person with whom he had initially left Germany for Iran: Josef D. from Dortmund. In 2014, the Islamist was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in Düsseldorf for belonging to a terrorist group associated with the Taliban. According to the judges, he had traveled to the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan to join the armed struggle.
However, Hajib was already in custody by then. And Hajib claims to have known nothing about Josef D’s plans. In the interview, Hajib stated that the two parted ways shortly after starting their trip in Iran. This is consistent with the findings from the Düsseldorf process. Josef D. stated that he and Hajib had separated in Iran after an argument. Even after months of interrogation in Pakistani custody, an investigation against Hajib was never opened.
Voluntary return trip, arbitrary arrest
However, when Hajib returned from Pakistan on February 17, 2010, German security authorities continued to assume that entry into the Federal Republic would serve to commit terrorist attacks. The Hessian State Security coordinated the action at the Frankfurt airport. 25 federal and state officials were on duty. Shortly before Hajib could leave the airport through customs, he was intercepted by officials who informed him in a so-called threat speech that he was a danger to Germany.
This was followed by a lengthy conversation with a Hessian official who spoke to Hajib in Arabic. In the reminder protocol, the latter considers Hajib’s descriptions to be credible. It can be “assumed” that Hajib “was on a pilgrimage”. However, participation in jihad cannot be completely ruled out. During the conversation, Hajib suddenly changed his original travel plans and bought a ticket for the next flight to Morocco, accompanied by the officials.
Hajib says he was forced to travel to Morocco. “The officials told me very clearly: you are not allowed to leave the airport unless you go to Morocco.”
At the request of “Spiegel” and Mainz report responds the Office of Criminal Police of the State of Hesse. “Mr. Hajib’s onward trip to Morocco was voluntary. At no time was there pressure on Mr. Hajib from HLKA officials.”
Arrest and trial in Morocco
In Morocco, Hajib was immediately arrested by Moroccan security agents and then disappeared for several days without a trace. His family did not know where he was or had contact with a lawyer. Hajib describes what he experienced as a “kidnapping” and how, after severe torture and isolation, he signed a document, the contents of which he was not allowed to read himself.
Only in front of the judge did he learn that he was accused of having participated in the formation of a terrorist organization in Afghanistan. No witnesses or further evidence was presented. According to reports from employees of the German embassy, he continued the process physically weakened, sat in a wheelchair, mentally absent, could barely give a signal and was found guilty.
Human rights activists confirm allegations of torture
Several human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have investigated the case and confirmed Hajib’s allegations of torture. After a detailed examination of the case, the UN Human Rights Council also concluded that Hajib’s arrest was arbitrary and, as early as 2012, called on the Moroccan government to “release Mr. Hajib immediately and release him. provide adequate compensation. “
Lawyer Schultz appealed to the constitutional court in Berlin for his client. He says that until today no one from the German authorities has apologized to his client. That is the minimum.
You can get more information on this and other topics on Tuesday, September 8 in Report Mainz at 9.45 pm ARD.
