Austrian court convicts 8 Iraqis of gang-rape of German

Austrian court convicts 8 Iraqis of gang-rape of German 

By Associated Press

Published: 14:19 GMT, 2 March 2017

VIENNA (AP) - An Austrian court found eight Iraqi nationals guilty on Thursday of gang-raping a German tourist on New Year's Eve more than a year ago and sentenced them to prison terms of between nine and 13 years.

Charges against a ninth suspect were dismissed, said a court statement. The victim - a 28-year old woman - was awarded 25,000 euros (over $26,000) in damages.

Both sides were appealing the decision, the statement said.

A defendant covers his face at the beginning of his trial on gang-raping a German tourist in Vienna, Austria, Thursday, March 2, 2017. Eight Iraqi nationals have been given jail sentences of between nine and 13 years. (AP Photo/Philipp Jenne)

The Iraqis, aged between 22 and 48, came to Austria as migrants between May and December 2015. Five subsequently were given refugee status.

The prosecution charged that the eight exploited the fact that the victim had been drinking heavily on New Year's Eve 2015 and was unable to defend herself.

The court heard testimony that four of the men took her to a Vienna apartment where they were joined by the others and that all took turns raping her. When she regained control, she found herself naked in a bed.

Prosecutor Karina Fehringer said the victim continues to suffer post-traumatic effects from the assault that required psychiatric treatment.

All but one of the defendants denied raping the woman while some acknowledged having what they described as voluntary sex with her. But Fehringer suggested that was impossible, describing the victim as being in defenseless in an "unconscious, shock-rigid" state.

Charges were dismissed against the 48-year old who said he had been asleep during the assaults.

Rape is punishable by a maximum 15-year prison term in Austria. Explaining the verdict and sentencing, Judge Petra Poschalko said that only two of the defendants had helped the court establish the facts and only one had confessed.

Fehringer had dismissed defense claims that the victim could have sent "false signals" that could have encouraged the men.

Noting that the woman had been heavily intoxicated, Fehringer was quoted by the Austria Press Agency as asking: "Should we stick warnings on bottles: 'excess consumption could be interpreted as agreement to have sex?'"

Defense lawyer Andreas Reichenbach observed that the crime was committed at around the same time as the high-profile sexual assaults in Cologne by groups of migrants and suggested the tough sentences might be an "additional message" that such actions will not be tolerated.
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Associated Press video journalist Philipp-Moritz Jenne contributed.

A defendant covers his face as he is lead out of the court room after his trial on gang-raping a German tourist in Vienna, Austria, Thursday, March 2, 2017. Eight Iraqi nationals have been given jail sentences of between nine and 13 years. (AP Photo/Philipp Jenne)
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My legs are open for refugees

German police clash with counter-protesters at anti-refugee march
HomeEuropeGermany Sat Nov 7, 2015 10:5PM
Riot police remove counter-protesters opposing a demonstration of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Berlin on November 7, 2015. (photos by AFP)
Riot police remove counter-protesters opposing a demonstration of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Berlin on November 7, 2015. (photos by AFP)
German Police forces have clashed with activists that waged a counter-rally to slam an anti-refugee demonstration in which thousands marched to protest Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy.

Police authorities said their forces detained more than 40 people during the clashes that occurred Saturday in Berlin, where a police officer was slightly injured, AFP reported.

Police officials estimated that nearly 5,000 people showed up for the main anti-refugee protest march that was organized by the eurosceptic and populist-nationalist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) under the banner "Asylum Has Its Limits -- Red Card for Merkel."

The clashes broke out after police officers began attempts to dismantle a sit-in by counter-demonstrators, some of whom attempted to break through the barriers separating them from the anti-refugee protest rally. Police forces also intervened to prevent angry exchanges between rival protesters.

A supporter of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party displays an anti-Merkel placard during a demonstration against the German government on November 7, 2015.
"We are demonstrating against the asylum chaos caused by Angela Merkel," said European Parliament deputy Beatrix von Storch, an AfD member, at the march.

Those who took part at the protest march waved German flags and chanted slogans such as "Merkel must go" and "Traitor to the people."

Five counter-demonstrations in favor of the asylum seekers drew nearly 800 activists although organizers said they had expected a turnout of several thousands.

This is while police authorities deployed a huge force of over 1,100 officers in the German capital to halt any potential trouble between the rival demonstrators.

Merkel has encountered increasing criticism over her position to welcome stranded foreign refugees fleeing foreign-backed wars and persecution as her country, which holds Europe's strongest economy, faces a record influx of nearly one million asylum seekers this year.

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