Germany's Muslims Wary After Headscarf Martyr Trial
TIME: Dozens of reporters from Germany, Egypt and other Muslim countries packed into a Dresden courtroom last week to hear the verdict against the Russian émigré accused of stabbing to death a pregnant Egyptian woman who's since been dubbed the "headscarf martyr" by much of the Arab world. It was a far cry from the attention the killing itself received in July — the crime was scarcely reported by the German media, leading to massive protests in Egypt and the Middle East.

That Alex Wiens was convicted of murdering Marwa el-Sherbini and sentenced to life in prison was not surprising — el-Sherbini was stabbed in front of numerous eyewitnesses in a dramatic attack just after she finished giving testimony in the same Dresden courthouse where Wiens was tried. His trial seemed a mere formality. It was nonetheless closely watched by Germany's 4 million Muslims, as well as the wider Muslim world, as a way of gauging how serious Germany was about confronting what Muslims see as a rising tide of Islamophobia and racism in the country.

The crime was shocking as much for Wiens' brutality as for his brazenness. During the trial, prosecutors said el-Sherbini, 31, was attacked after giving testimony against Wiens in a defamation case — el-Sherbini had accused Wiens of calling her an "Islamist" and a "terrorist" on a playground after she asked him to make way so her son could play on the swings. As she finished testifying, Wiens suddenly lunged at her with a kitchen knife he had smuggled into court and stabbed her 16 times. Her husband, Elwy Okaz, 32, was also repeatedly stabbed before being shot by a police officer who mistook him for el-Sherbini's attacker. El-Sherbini, who was three months pregnant at the time, bled to death in front of the couple's 3-year-old son. >>> Tristana Moore, Berlin | Monday, November 16, 2009

German Killer of Muslim 'Veil Martyr' Jailed for Life
THE TELEGRAPH: Alex Wiens, a German who stabbed a pregnant Egyptian woman, Marwa El-Sherbiny, to death in a courtroom in front of her husband and three-year old son, has been jailed for life for her murder.

The case of Alex Wiens, 28, who has admitted holding anti-Islamic and xenophobic views, shocked Germany and incensed the Muslim world, sparking protests from Egypt to Iran.

Security was exceptionally high for the trial, with 200 police officers and snipers securing the court in Dresden, the east German city where the killing took place in July.

Wiens, of Russian origin, was convicted of murdering Marwa El-Sherbiny, whom he stabbed 16 times with a kitchen knife, and given the maximum penalty. He also stabbed her husband Elwy Okaz, who was trying to defend her.

Their son, Mustafa, watched as his mother bled to death in the courtroom.

Mrs El-Sherbiny came to be knwon [sic] as the "veil martyr" as she was wearing a headscarf when Wiens murdered her.

Wiens was shielded by bulletproof glass, his head covered by a hood, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses, and his ankles shackled as the verdict and sentencing were read. >>> | Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Mord in Dresden: Ahmadinedschad nennt Deutsche "Sklaventreiber"
WELT ONLINE: Der iranische Präsident Ahmadinedschad hat den Mord an der Ägypterin Marwa in einem Dresdner Gericht als „vorprogrammiert" bezeichnet. Er beschuldigte die westlichen Länder, elementare Rechte der Menschen zu ignorieren und forderte den UN-Sicherheitsrat auf, Sanktionen gegen Berlin zu verhängen.

Der iranische Präsident Mahmud Ahmadinedschad hat den Mord an der Ägypterin Marwa El-Sherbini in einem Gerichtssaal in Dresden als „vorprogrammiert“ bezeichnet. „Der Westen prahlt mit seinem stets funktionierenden Sicherheitsapparat, aber dann kommt einer in den Gerichtssaal und sticht nicht einmal, sondern achtzehn Mal auf eine unschuldige Frau ein, und das vor den Augen des Richters, der Geschworenen und der Polizei“, sagte Ahmadinedschad in einer Kabinettssitzung in Teheran, wie die Agentur Irna berichtete. „So eine Tat ist definitiv vorprogrammiert gewesen“, so der Präsident.

Der UN-Sicherheitsrat sollte Deutschland nicht nur verurteilen, sondern gegen Berlin auch Sanktionen verhängen, forderte Ahmadinedschad. „Wieso werden sofort Resolutionen verabschiedet, wenn in einem anderen Land ein Tausendstel solch einer Tat begangen wird, aber in ihren (westlichen) eigenen Ländern werden die elementaren Rechte der Menschen ignoriert“, sagte der iranische Präsident, dessen umstrittene Wiederwahl vor kurzem wegen angeblicher Wahlfälschung zu schweren Protesten und Unruhen geführt hatte. >>> dpa | Sonntag, 12. Juli 2009

Tote Ägypterin: Islamisten fordern Vergeltung für Mord im Gericht
WELT ONLINE: Der Mord an der Apothekerin Marwa S. (32) im Dresdner Landgericht empört Muslime weltweit. In arabischen Medien wird offen Kritik an Deutschland geäußert. In den einschlägigen Internetforen drohen Islamisten mit Vergeltung: "Das Blut unserer Schwester Marwa wird nicht umsonst geflossen sein."

Marwas Vater trauert am Sarg. Bild: Welt Online
Am Anfang stand ein Beleidigungsfall. Doch dann geschah ein Aufsehen erregender Mord, der nun in vielen muslimischen Ländern emotionale Reaktionen hervorruft und von gewaltbereiten Islamisten für ihre Zwecke instrumentalisiert wird.

Es geht um den Tod der Apothekerin Marwa S. (32) im Dresdner Landgericht. Islamisten nutzen die Bluttat, um Aggressionen gegen die Deutschen zu schüren. In den Dschihad-Internetforen der Terrororganisation al-Qaida werden Meldungen wie „Mord an einer Muslima in deutschem Gerichtssaal“ oder „Deutscher Extremist tötet ägyptische Frau“ dahingehend kommentiert, dass der deutsche Rechtsstaat die muslimische Frau nicht ausreichend vor ihrem Mörder geschützt habe. In einschlägigen Videos wird gar zur Vergeltung aufgerufen.

Solche Meldungen und Kommentare bleiben in der arabische Welt nicht wirkungslos. Dies zeigte sich in der ägyptischen Stadt Alexandria. Mehr als 1000 Menschen schlossen sich dem Trauerzug für die Getötete an, der dann aber schnell den Charakter einer Protestdemonstration trug. Einige der Trauergäste riefen „Nieder mit Deutschland!“ und „Wir wollen Vergeltung“. >>> Von G. Lachmann und F. Flade | Montag, 06. Juli 2009

Egypt Mourns 'Headscarf Martyr'
BBC: The body of a Muslim woman, killed in a German courtroom by a man convicted of insulting her religion, has been taken back to her native Egypt for burial.

Marwa Sherbini is being hailed as the shahida, or martyr, of the Hijab. Photo: BBC
Marwa Sherbini, 31, was stabbed 18 times by Axel W, who is now under arrest in Dresden for suspected murder.

Husband Elwi Okaz is also in a critical condition in hospital, after being injured as he tried to save his wife.

Ms Sherbini had sued her killer after he called her a "terrorist" because of her headscarf.

The case has attracted much attention in Egypt and the Muslim world.

German prosecutors have said the 28-year-old attacker, identified only as Axel W, was driven by a deep hatred of foreigners and Muslims. >>> | Monday, July 06, 2009