Syrian man on release faces new rape trial as Germany debates migrant integration

Ahmad A., a Syrian national, was detained for an alleged assault on a 16-year-old girl but was released after 40 days because authorities could not interview the victim in time. Within three months, he is accused of taking part in a gang rape of a woman who had approached him for a cigarette; the assault occurred on a bridge over the Izara River, after which the attackers moved to a nearby petrol station where the victim managed to escape.

Ahmad's defense maintains that the act was consensual, and the case is currently being heard by the Munich District Court. The episode has been highlighted by Wolfgang Büscher, spokesperson for the Christian charity Die Arche, who warns that Germany is losing control over migrant integration and points to rising violence and radicalisation among some immigrant youths. Büscher also referenced recent demographic data showing a slight population decline in Germany, attributing part of the shift to reduced net migration.