Arrest of a Lebanese Citizen in Germany on Charges of 'Membership in Hezbollah'

The Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany has announced that a Lebanese citizen has been arrested in the country on charges of membership in the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The judicial authority stated that the accused, named 'Fazl Z', was arrested on Sunday, July 15, in the city of Salzgitter in the state of Lower Saxony and was formally charged on Monday. This individual, who joined 'a foreign terrorist organization' eight years ago, purchased components for military drones, particularly drone engines, in Germany to export to Lebanon. The German prosecutor's office announced that these drones were intended for 'terrorist attacks against Israel'. German prosecutors have sought prison sentences for suspects of membership in Hezbollah. Authorities have stated that investigations in this regard are ongoing. Last year, German police also arrested two Lebanese citizens on charges of membership in Hezbollah. In the first trial session of these two defendants last month, the prosecutor's office requested prison sentences for them. In May 2020, German police classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, banning the activities of this Iran-backed militia in the country. In recent years, Germany has monitored and prohibited the activities of Islamist groups in the country. However, following the attack by the extremist group Hamas on Israel on October 7, oversight and control of Islamist groups to identify support for Hamas in Germany has intensified. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are listed as terrorist organizations by the European Union and the United States.