The Turkish-Tajik couple accused of planning to attack St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna were released and remanded in custody pending deportation. But the terror suspect fought the deportation order, including the indefinite entry ban. And was initially successful at the Federal Administrative Court on Friday.
In the absence of a compelling suspicion, the terrorist suspects who are said to have planned attacks in Vienna and Cologne around Christmas were released at the end of May. However, a couple and a Tajik extradited by Germany were held pending deportation.
Suspected terrorist plans in Vienna and Cologne
While the suspect from our neighboring country has already been deported to Tajikistan, the man living in Vienna and his Turkish wife are fighting the deportation order of the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA).
On Friday, the terror suspect was taken by four police officers, including two WEGA officers, to Hall 7 of the Federal Administrative Court, where his complaint against deportation was heard all morning. “I was accused of plotting to blow up St. Stephen’s Cathedral,” the short man with a full beard told the judge when asked why he was arrested and taken into custody in late December. According to the Vienna public prosecutor’s office, the investigation is still ongoing.
The 29-year-old denies the allegations
The man denies the plan of attack. He also wants nothing to do with the IS images found on his mobile phone. He also denies findings by Europol and foreign secret services. “I did not use forged travel documents in Ukraine or submit a false Ukrainian asylum decision. That is a lie,” he tells the judge through an interpreter. “My children are Ukrainian citizens and when I came to Austria, I was given the same status as my children,” the complainant said.
“He has an illegal residence permit,” the official replies. After the Tajik and his wife were arrested in Vienna on suspicion of terrorism, the couple’s three minor children were taken to their grandparents in Turkey: “After the children were taken to Turkey, their residence permits were revoked in accordance with the Displaced Persons Ordinance.”
Lawyer criticizes the timing of the procedure
Andreas Schweitzer, the 29-year-old’s lawyer, justifies the complaint against the deportation, among other things, with the timing of the proceedings: “The deportation order was issued on May 22. On May 23, my client was released due to lack of strong suspicion and immediately taken into custody pending deportation,” he says, insisting that the Tajik faces persecution or even the death penalty in his home country. Why? Because he belongs to the banned opposition group 24. “People who support Group 24 are rigorously persecuted in Tajikistan,” Schweitzer says.
“I can be recognized on a Group 24 video,” claims his client, who filed a request for international protection, or asylum, through a lawyer on Friday. However, because this must be done orally and through a body of the public security service, the court declares itself incompetent. It is determined that the man will file the request orally on Friday in the police cell complex.
The complaint will be followed up
After a six-hour hearing, the complaint against the deportation was accepted, with the formal reason that the asylum application had to be decided first. This is based on a ruling by the administrative judge from 2016. The Tajik remains in custody for the time being.
By the way: the complaint against the planned deportation of his wife will be heard in Linz next week.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
