extremism
Ex-RAF terrorist remains in custody under strict conditions
The former RAF terrorist Daniela Klette is in custody in the women’s prison in Vechta. photo
© Jörn Hüneke/dpa
Daniela Klette is in custody – and is under video surveillance and isolation all day. Her lawyer criticizes this. Now an investigating judge has made a clear decision.
Klette is separated from other prisoners in the Vechta correctional facility, but there are other opportunities for conversation and she is not isolated. He did not give reasons for the decision. A spokeswoman for the Lower Saxony Ministry of Justice said that the prison had come to the conclusion that there was an increased risk of escape – which the court had confirmed. The “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung” and the “taz” had previously reported.
Why is Klette in custody?
Investigators are accusing Klette, who was arrested in Berlin at the end of February, of attempted murder, bomb attacks and robberies involving the use of firearms. Like her accomplices Burkhard Garweg and Ernst-Volker Staub, who are still being searched for, she belonged to the so-called third generation of the left-wing extremist RAF. In 1998 the RAF, which had carried out numerous attacks and killed people until 1991, declared itself dissolved. Klette is in custody in the women’s prison in Vechta.
The 65-year-old’s lawyer had previously criticized his client’s prison conditions. Klette is under video surveillance almost all day and is also completely isolated, said Berlin criminal lawyer Lukas Theune at the end of March. The court spokesman emphasized that an appeal against the investigating judge’s decision was possible at the next instance.
Why is there a risk of absconding?
The spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said about the suspected risk of escape: “The reason for this is certainly that the accused was presumably a member of the third generation of the RAF and lived underground in this position for 30 years. Another reason is certainly that Accused people from certain scenes continue to experience great solidarity and are even calling for their release.” In addition, Garweg and Staub are still on the run, and Klette faces a “not entirely insignificant prison sentence” if convicted. All of this distinguishes her from other suspects in custody. However, it is constantly being checked whether the conditions for the prison conditions are still met.
A rally on April 14 near the prison is intended to once again show solidarity with the former terrorist. According to a city spokesman, 50 to 100 participants are registered. According to police, around 35 people took part in the first rally for Klette in front of the women’s prison in Vechta in mid-March, and around 130 people took part in a counter-demonstration.