Hundreds of supporters of the terrorist militia "Islamic State" are imprisoned in Turkey. Among them are some extremists with a German passport. Ankara wants to get rid of her and started deportation to European countries. Today's Thursday, the first returnees to arrive in Germany.
The authorities are facing a major problem: they simply do not know in many cases whether and how much returnees have participated in crimes committed by the terrorist organization. In addition, some are families with children.
Marijan Murat / picture alliance
Extremism expert Thomas Mücke
Extremism expert Thomas Mücke is the founder and CEO of the Violence Prevention Network (VPN). The association works nationwide with state and justice ministries and takes care of the deradicalisation of IS returnees.
In the SPIEGEL interview, the diploma educator demands that the children of returnees be resumed without reservations - and warns against the third generation of IS suspects.
SPIEGEL: Is there a danger from the IS suspects who are coming to Germany these days?
Mücke: I can not answer flat rate and must be evaluated in each case. Basically, just because there is currently no arrest warrant, this does not mean that these people pose no danger. New details, testimonies or other clues from the surrounding area or combat areas can quickly change the situation.
SPIEGEL: CDU politician Armin Schuster demands: Every jeopard must be imprisoned if possible. Are these returnees in your eyes a threat?
Mücke: There must be a reason to put her in custody. The authorities do not seem to have the current returnees. That's why you can not argue like Armin Schuster.
SPIEGEL: Soon, other IS supporters and their children could return to Germany. How do you deal with the children?
Mücke: The state has the duty of care for these children. The courts have decided several times in the past. So there is an obligation to bring back children and bring them to safety. The children are victims of their parents in this case. You can not help it if the parents followed the IS. Therefore, the children should be reintegrated without reservations. Everyone is in demand in society.
SPIEGEL: How many children are we talking about?
Mücke: Here we are talking about estimates of 100 to 130 children who could come to Germany. That's a manageable number that does not overwhelm our authorities.
SPIEGEL: How should mothers be treated?
Mücke: There is no per se the IS returnee or the IS mother. A woman may have traveled abroad and then simply adapted, although she may soon have noticed that the IS ideology does not correspond to her way of life. And then there are those who have identified strongly with the ideology involved in the terror. But the courts have to decide that.
SPIEGEL: How many cases have you and the VPN already taken care of?
Mücke: So far we have looked after 36 returnees. There is no endangerment to self or others, fortunately there has been no relapse. However, these individuals are first- and second-generation IS supporters. They left between 2013 and the end of 2015. These groups were usually only a short time on site and then tried to return quickly. The third is the most difficult generation.
SPIEGEL: To what extent?
Mücke: They left at a later date, were heavily involved in the system and possibly involved in serious crimes. They did not really want to return, unlike the two previous generations, and Turkey's invasion of northern Syria compels them to do so. We have little experience in working with this group of people. Most of these returnees will probably be arrested. And for a good reason. Because the men are to be considered with extreme caution. They are potentially the greatest danger.
SPIEGEL: Can this group even be re-integrated and deradicalized?
Mücke: I am very careful with the prognosis. We will also have to wait for the women of this generation.
SPIEGEL: Who now monitors the returnees who enter without a warrant?
Mücke: All authorities: Land criminal authorities, state protection, youth welfare offices and counseling centers, which take care of the deradicalization. We work together closely.
