http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Thu, 23 May 2013 11:10:09 +0200 Thu, 23 May 2013 11:10:09 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/european-court-of-human-rights-finds-in-favor-of-renditions-victim-a-872778.html#ref=rss In 2003, Khaled El-Masri was abducted by the CIA, flown to Afghanistan and tortured as part of the US special renditions program. On Thursday, after years of fighting for justice, the European Court of Human Rights finally awarded El-Masri compensation for his suffering. Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:12:39 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/european-court-of-human-rights-finds-in-favor-of-renditions-victim-a-872778.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/european-court-could-block-german-bid-to-ban-npd-a-833053.html#ref=rss Germany is currently preparing an attempt to ban the far-right NPD party. But a German legal expert has warned that the bid may be blocked by the European Court of Human Rights, which has even higher hurdles to outlawing parties than Germany does. Mon, 14 May 2012 15:59:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/european-court-could-block-german-bid-to-ban-npd-a-833053.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/british-government-pushes-for-reform-of-european-human-rights-court-a-828349.html#ref=rss The British government has been pounding "meddling" from Europe in the wake of a scandal over the extradition of an Islamist radical that was delayed by a Strasbourg ruling. Now London is demanding radical reform of the European Court of Human Rights, a move opposed by Berlin. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:58:13 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/british-government-pushes-for-reform-of-european-human-rights-court-a-828349.html The British government has been pounding "meddling" from Europe in the wake of a scandal over the extradition of an Islamist radical that was delayed by a Strasbourg ruling. Now London is demanding radical reform of the European Court of Human Rights, a move opposed by Berlin.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-press-review-on-european-incest-ruling-a-827382.html#ref=rss Should incest be banned? While Europe's highest authority on human rights on Thursday rejected a case claiming that Germany's law against incest violates the right to privacy, some media commentators in Germany believe sexual relations between siblings should be decriminalized. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:42:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-press-review-on-european-incest-ruling-a-827382.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/european-court-of-human-rights-upholds-german-ban-on-incest-a-827106.html#ref=rss The German ban on incest is consistent with European human rights laws, the European Court of Human Rights decided on Thursday. The case involved a German man who had been convicted several times for having intimate relations with his sister, with whom he has four children. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:08:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/european-court-of-human-rights-upholds-german-ban-on-incest-a-827106.html The German ban on incest is consistent with European human rights laws, the European Court of Human Rights decided on Thursday. The case involved a German man who had been convicted several times for having intimate relations with his sister, with whom he has four children.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/license-to-exploit-servant-abuse-case-could-challenge-diplomatic-immunity-a-770685.html#ref=rss Diplomatic immunity was originally meant to protect embassy personnel from arbitrary harrassment. But a new case in Berlin, involving the alleged abuse of a Indonesian servant, makes it clear that human rights sometimes get lost in the shuffle. The case could go to Germany's highest court. Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:39:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/license-to-exploit-servant-abuse-case-could-challenge-diplomatic-immunity-a-770685.html Diplomatic immunity was originally meant to protect embassy personnel from arbitrary harrassment. But a new case in Berlin, involving the alleged abuse of a Indonesian servant, makes it clear that human rights sometimes get lost in the shuffle. The case could go to Germany's highest court.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/condemnation-of-referendum-swiss-vote-to-expel-foreign-criminals-is-slap-in-the-face-for-eu-a-731852.html#ref=rss Switzerland's vote to automatically expel criminal foreigners drew condemnation from across Europe on Monday. Commentators said the decision would breach treaty obligations. Amnesty International called it 'black day for human rights' in the nation that voted to ban the construction of minarets last year. Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:29:19 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/condemnation-of-referendum-swiss-vote-to-expel-foreign-criminals-is-slap-in-the-face-for-eu-a-731852.html Switzerland's vote to automatically expel criminal foreigners drew condemnation from across Europe on Monday. Commentators said the decision would breach treaty obligations. Amnesty International called it 'black day for human rights' in the nation that voted to ban the construction of minarets last year.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-world-from-berlin-germany-addresses-treatment-of-dangerous-criminals-a-714213.html#ref=rss Should dangerous criminals be locked up indefinitely? The European Court of Human Rights thinks not, a ruling which sent Germany scrambling for a new regulation. The solution was announced this week, but commentators are unconvinced. Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:36:40 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-world-from-berlin-germany-addresses-treatment-of-dangerous-criminals-a-714213.html Should dangerous criminals be locked up indefinitely? The European Court of Human Rights thinks not, a ruling which sent Germany scrambling for a new regulation. The solution was announced this week, but commentators are unconvinced.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/council-of-europe-secretary-general-on-burqa-bans-europe-has-suffered-under-fundamentalism-a-700647.html#ref=rss Is it right for governments to place bans on burqas or the construction of minarets? In a SPIEGEL ONLINE interview, Thorbjørn Jagland, secretary general of the Council of Europe, pleads for a more pragmantic societal approach. He also defends the decision of the Nobel Committee, which he also chairs, to bestow Barack Obama with the Peace Prize. Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/council-of-europe-secretary-general-on-burqa-bans-europe-has-suffered-under-fundamentalism-a-700647.html Is it right for governments to place bans on burqas or the construction of minarets? In a SPIEGEL ONLINE interview, Thorbjørn Jagland, secretary general of the Council of Europe, pleads for a more pragmantic societal approach. He also defends the decision of the Nobel Committee, which he also chairs, to bestow Barack Obama with the Peace Prize.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/defending-felons-human-rights-european-court-ruling-forces-release-of-rapists-and-murderers-a-695737.html#ref=rss The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that German laws on preventive detention of dangerous criminals is a violation of their human rights. Now Germany will be forced to release almost 200 felons, including convicted rapists and multiple murderers. The first repeat offender has already been released. Wed, 19 May 2010 18:07:09 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/defending-felons-human-rights-european-court-ruling-forces-release-of-rapists-and-murderers-a-695737.html The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that German laws on preventive detention of dangerous criminals is a violation of their human rights. Now Germany will be forced to release almost 200 felons, including convicted rapists and multiple murderers. The first repeat offender has already been released.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/discrimination-on-the-pitch-gay-referee-cries-foul-in-turkey-a-637576.html#ref=rss A gay soccer referee recently suspended in Turkey is planning to sue the country's national football federation on grounds that it discriminated against him because of his homosexuality. Halil Ibrahim Dincdag says he is ready to take his case as far as the European Court of Human Rights. Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:28:14 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/discrimination-on-the-pitch-gay-referee-cries-foul-in-turkey-a-637576.html A gay soccer referee recently suspended in Turkey is planning to sue the country's national football federation on grounds that it discriminated against him because of his homosexuality. Halil Ibrahim Dincdag says he is ready to take his case as far as the European Court of Human Rights.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/nightmare-in-turkey-eu-officials-criticize-german-teen-s-imprisonment-a-518960.html#ref=rss German teenager Marco Weiss has spent seven months in a Turkish prison for allegedly molesting an underage British girl. His family and, reportedly, the German government are planning to take Turkey to the European Court of Human Rights if his trial is not completed soon. Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:12:31 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/nightmare-in-turkey-eu-officials-criticize-german-teen-s-imprisonment-a-518960.html German teenager Marco Weiss has spent seven months in a Turkish prison for allegedly molesting an underage British girl. His family and, reportedly, the German government are planning to take Turkey to the European Court of Human Rights if his trial is not completed soon.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/lebensborn-victims-head-to-court-children-of-nazi-program-to-sue-norway-a-470616.html#ref=rss The children bred in Himmler's so-called "Lebensborn" program to breed an Aryan master race are suing Norway in the European Court of Human Rights for decades of discrimination. Many have been ostracized since birth and some even locked away in mental institutions. Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:48:25 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/lebensborn-victims-head-to-court-children-of-nazi-program-to-sue-norway-a-470616.html The children bred in Himmler's so-called "Lebensborn" program to breed an Aryan master race are suing Norway in the European Court of Human Rights for decades of discrimination. Many have been ostracized since birth and some even locked away in mental institutions.]]>