Seven men and a woman went on trial in Munich on Tuesday on charges of supporting foreign terrorist organizations by translating al-Qaeda propaganda into German and posting it on the internet as part of the so-called Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), dpa reported.
The defendants allegedly made German versions of calls to jihad (holy war) between August 2006 and March 2008 and also posted on their websites grisly video images of bomb attacks and victims having their heads hacked off.
The GIMF was described in court as a loose organization of international Islamists advocating radical jihadist views.
Most of the defendants, who are aged between 18 and 30, had never met one another in person before trial. They had always communicated over the internet from their homes in different parts of Germany. All remain free on bail.
They face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Prosecutor Michael Bruns rejected the view that supporting Islamism online was harmless.
"Terrorism cannot live without propaganda. It's the fuel tube of terrorism, and we have to cut it off," he said.
The woman defendant, 24, wore a burqa in court. And although her face was covered, she put up her hand to block views of her face-veil when photographers were allowed to briefly take pictures.
Seven of the young Muslims are German nationals. One is Turkish. They were also charged with forming a criminal organization.
The trial schedule runs through to May 19. No verdict date has been set yet.
Eight stand trial for translating al-Qaeda propaganda into German
Seven men and a woman went on trial in Munich on Tuesday on charges of supporting foreign terrorist organizations by translating al-Qaeda propaganda into German and posting it on the internet as part of the so-called Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF).
