Unrepentant terror leader to be released in Germany (Min. sentence for 9 murders, 11 attempts)

The Telegraph (U.K.) / Various ^ | November 24, 2008

[Stoat]

Christian Klar, now 56, will walk out of jail after 26 years on January 3 after a court ruling.

The decision comes despite earlier demands that he make an apology for his murderous crimes still not being met.

Klar is portrayed in 'The Baader-Meinhof Complex' which is currently playing in British cinemas.

The movie documents the crimes of the urban terrorists before they took the name RAF and it has been heavily criticised in Germany, particularly by the families of victims, for portraying him and his cohorts as 'cool' and their methods justified.

Klar has shown no repentance for his crimes and last year wrote from behind bars to a Marxist newspaper stating that Europe was ruled by an "imperial pact" and that society must purge its "chauvinistic" forces if it is achieve the "final defeat of capital."

While he made no call to violence, his message was heavily criticised in the German media, prompting Klar to brand the media as "block wardens" – a reference to Nazi neighbourhood spies during the Third Reich.

Klar was one of the leading members of the RAF, the communist guerrilla group that emerged from the 1968 student protest movement and was committed to combating "capitalist imperialism" and rooting former Nazis out of what it considered to be 'morally corrupt' West German society.

Found guilty on nine counts of murder and 11 counts of attempted murder, Klar is one of the longest serving prisoners in liberal Germany.

A total of 34 people were killed by the RAF, mainly members of the West German financial and political establishment.

(edit)

[Stoat]

Also:

Red Army killer is freed from prison News

 

Due to be freed: Christian Klar

 

FORMER Red Army Faction leader Christian Klar is to be released from prison after having served the minimum 26 years of a life sentence for multiple murders.

A German court today approved the release from jail of Klar, who was a prominent figure in the terror group also known as the Baader-Meinhof gang.

Klar - now aged 56 - is serving five life terms but will have served the minimum required 26 years by January.

The court in Stuttgart said there were no grounds to keep him in custody beyond that date.

(edit)

Bloomberg.com Germany

(edit)

Klar, who was sentenced to life in prison, will be released Jan. 3, the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart said today. There is no longer a danger that he will commit serious crimes, the court said in a statement. Both the Federal Prosecutor and the head of the prison where Klar is held supported parole.

Klar, now 56, was convicted for his role in the 1977 killings of German Federal Prosecutor Siegfried Buback, Juergen Ponto, then chief executive of Dresdner Bank AG, and Hanns Martin Schleyer, then chairman of the BDI Industry Lobby Group.

Another RAF leader, Brigitte Mohnhaupt, was released last year after a court in Stuttgart determined that she no longer posed a threat to society.

The release of RAF members has rekindled memories of one of the darkest episodes in post-World War II Germany, known as the “German Autumn” of 1977.

The group, also known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang after founding members Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof, conducted a campaign aimed at bringing down the capitalist system.

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Related:  February 2007 FR thread on Brigitte Mohnhaupt

Baader-Meinhof gang member released (Orig. sentenced to 5 life terms, out after 24 years)

[nufsed]

How’s that no-death penalty thing workin out?

[livius]

The German Bill Ayers, complete with the whole-hearted support of the press.

[Stoat]

How’s that no-death penalty thing workin out?

A total of 34 people were killed by the RAF

********

There is no longer a danger that he will commit serious crimes, the court said in a statement.

**************

Klar has shown no repentance for his crimes and last year wrote from behind bars to a Marxist newspaper stating that Europe was ruled by an "imperial pact" and that society must purge its "chauvinistic" forces if it is achieve the "final defeat of capital."

**************

I notice that there's no mention of any of the judges inviting Herr Klar to stay at their homes after his release.

[Stoat]

The German Bill Ayers, complete with the whole-hearted support of the press.

I'm guessing that, just like Ayers and various other Leftist radicals and murderers Herr Klar will be offered prestigious positions on university faculties as well as lucrative book deals.  He will be the toast of the town and invited to all the trendy parties.

[Deb]

Wasn’t he in ABBA?

[rfp1234]

Impressive justice system (26/9 = 3 years for each murder).

Deutschland unter alles.

[omega4179]

So glad that Germany is more nuianced and progresssive than those mouth breathers in tx. /sarc

[livius]

Heck, he’ll probably get invited here to address Congress once The One has been sworn in and doesn’t have to play nice anymore.

[Stoat]

3 years for each murder

I cannot begin to truly grasp the utter devastation that the families of the victims must be feeling now.

[aruanan]

Unrepentant terror leader to be released in Germany

What's Bill Ayers doing over in Germany?

[Max in Utah]

“If you kill someone in Texas, we’ll kill you back.” —Ron White

[john in springfield]

This is from the same country that takes children away from their parents for the “crime” of homeschooling.

[pepsionice]

There are alot of curious things about the B-M gang. Of the original group....those who didn’t end up in prison...eventually became very disenchanted with the “mission” and were basically “retired”. So B-M, version 2, came along. They eventually became tired and disenchanted over the entire scheme....thus bringing in B-M, version 3.

The depth of the B-M gang? College students. They couldn’t attract roofers, plumbers or regular people....they were all part of the university crowd who felt they were “special”.

The fact that a pistol made it into the most secure prison....and used in a suicide with the first group of B-M members....meant that the cops were never honest or capable of guarding these guys.

The surge of the B-M gang? They basically ran from 1968 until late 1980s. Strangely enough...almost all activities ended in the summer of 1989 when East Germany fell apart. Few if any “experts” want to claim that the East Germany government was a key factor in the support of the B-M gang...but after the smoke clears in 1989...the German government starts getting very proactive and finds these guys left and right. By 1998....whatever remained of the B-M gang then claimed that they had achieved their results and were shutting down.

[weegee]

Klar was one of the leading members of the RAF, the communist guerrilla group that emerged from the 1968 student protest movement

Further proof that Communism Kills.

Membership in the Communist party is every bit as revolting and supporting of evil as being a Nazi.

[Stoat]

Background:

Red Army Faction (RAF)

Red Army Faction (RAF)

Description

The small and disciplined RAF is the successor to the Baader-Meinhof Gang, which originated in the student protest movement in the 1960s. Ideology is an obscure mix of Marxism and Maoism; committed to armed struggle. Organized into hardcore cadres that carry out terrorist attacks and a network of supporters who provide logistic and propaganda support. Has survived despite numerous arrests of top leaders over the years.

 

Activities

Bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and robberies. Targets German Government and private sector and US interests. Among the latter, attempted assassination in Belgium of NATO Commander (1979); bombing of NATO Air Force headquarters in Ramstein (1981); rocket attack of USAREUR Commander in Heidelberg (1981); and bombing of Rhein-Main Air Force Base (1985). In February 1991, the RAF fired approximately 250 assault rifle rounds at the US Embassy in Bonn, and in April the group assassinated the German Trust Agency director, Detlev Karsten Rohwedder.

 

Strength

Ten to 20, plus several hundred supporters.

Location/Area of Operations

Germany.

External Aid

Basically self-sustaining, but during Baader-Meinhof period received some support from Middle Eastern terrorist groups; some ties may still exist. The RAF received logistic support, sanctuary, and training from the German Democratic Republic during the early 1980s. The RAF appears to be developing closer ties to GRAPO in Spain.

[SunkenCiv]

The decision comes despite earlier demands that he make an apology for his murderous crimes still not being met.

I'm just glad I don't live in Germany, because I'd hate to get out of prison in 26 years after not making an apology for icing this POS (and everyone waiting there to cheer him) as he walked out of prison.

[SunkenCiv]

"Perfect timing! I have a cabinet job in mind for him!"

[Cacique]

Wonder if Obama has a cabinet position for this guy?

[Stoat]

Wonder if Obama has a cabinet position for this guy?

If not, he will undoubtedly be welcomed as an 'expert consultant' in a wide variety of areas, including but not limited to prison 'reform', economic policy and student activities.