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Photo: DPA

Dresden honours Egyptian 'veil martyr'

Published: 1 Jul 10 17:12 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100701-28243.html

The city of Dresden on Thursday paid its respects to a pregnant Egyptian woman who was stabbed to death in a courtroom one year ago in a racially motivated crime that outraged the Muslim world.

Officials including Saxon Justice Minister Jürgen Martens honoured the memory of 31-year-old Marwa El-Sherbini, dubbed the “veil martyr,” with a plaque to serve as a warning against racism.

"One year ago all of us were forced to realise the deadly logic of the hatred of foreigners," said Martens, adding that the murder had shaken "Dresden, Germany and the entire world."

Members of the local Muslim community took part in the ceremony and a commemorative march was held later in the day.

During a trial in July last year, 28-year-old Russian-born Alex Wiens stabbed Sherbini, who wore a headscarf, at least 16 times with an 18-centimetre kitchen knife. She was three-months pregnant with her second child. Her three-year-old son, Mustafa, watched her bleed to death in the courtroom.

Sherbini’s husband, Egyptian geneticist Elwy Okaz, rushed to her aid but was also stabbed and then shot in the leg by a police officer who was unsure who was the attacker.

Wiens said he was acting out of revenge after she had pressed charges against him for calling her a “terrorist,” “Islamist” and “whore” during a dispute over a playground swing in August 2008.

He confessed to the crime during his trial, which resulted in a life sentence.

The murder, as well as the slow reaction of Germany’s politicians and media, sparked outrage in Sherbini’s home country, as well as in the wider Muslim world.

"This deed will not be forgotten," said Dresden Mayor Helma Orosz.

AFP/DDP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

17:35 July 2, 2010 by Laurence F
The West has sacrificed the lives of our citizens and our money freeing Germans from the Nazis and Communists.

A return to Freedom means "Freedom of Speech." I guess neither the Germans in general or the Local in particular believes in this Freedom, as they remove comments from this article.

You are not children, if even if your Socialist masters that run your Country treat you as such. FREEDOM OF SPEECH is the essential part of a Democratic people. Fear of speaking is part of Communism and Fascism. Is it because your Socialism is the first step towards Communism?

FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
21:27 July 5, 2010 by HollyMacarony
Tell m now that ''Islam is not a race''

Racism and hatred against Muslim is still rising.

They are the next scapegoat.
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