I CARE - - Germany: Police throw book at Shariah vigilantes

6.9.14

I CARE - - News - Internet Centre Anti Racism Europe: 5/9/2014- Charges of unlawful assembly and use of uniform in public were brought against 11 members of a group trying to enforce aspects of strict Islamic Sharia law in the North Rhine-Westphalia city, a spokeswoman for the Wuppertal police told The Local. Officers stopped the 11-man group on the street on Wednesday. Some were wearing orange vests bearing the words 'Shariah Police', in violation of federal German law, the spokeswoman said. The group has been stopping young people at local drinking and gambling establishments and urging them to abstain from activities deemed to be ungodly according to Islam. The Wednesday incident was the first time they had directly violated the law, and no formal complaints had been made against them. "There is no evidence that they have intimated anybody," the spokeswoman said, adding that talks were under way between integration authorities and local mosque leaders to address the situation.