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Asylum scandal in Saxony-Anhalt: Christmas market attacker in court!
Magdeburg is experiencing a tragic incident: an asylum seeker caused a fatal attack at the Christmas market.
Asylum scandal in Saxony-Anhalt: Christmas market attacker in court!
In a current case that stirs emotions, former asylum seeker Taleb al-Abdulmohsen is at the center of an investigation. This is not just a case for lawyers, but also a story that extends far as far as Saudi Arabia. The parliamentary committee of inquiry in Saxony-Anhalt is dealing with the granting of asylum to al-Abdulmohsen, who was recognized as a politically persecuted person in Germany. The South German makes it clear that al-Abdulmohsen already had contacts with Saudi Arabian institutions before he came to Germany and was critical of the ruling family and Islam.
The period in which he applied for asylum is particularly explosive: just two days before his hearing at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), he contacted the Saudi Arabian embassy. At his 2016 hearing, according to a former BAMF employee, he appeared confident and knew exactly what to say to illustrate the dangers of his return to Saudi Arabia. In the Gulf state, criticism and apostasy from Islam can have serious consequences, including prison sentences or even death sentences.
The fatal Christmas market visit
On December 10, 2024, a tragic incident occurred in Magdeburg when al-Abdulmohsen drove a car through a Christmas market. Six people lost their lives while over 300 others were injured. The Naumburg Public Prosecutor's Office is currently bringing charges for six counts of murder and attempted murder of 338 people. The trial begins on November 10th. The question arises as to how the authorities were able to assess his granting of asylum and the associated risks.
In the investigative committee, MPs became particularly vocal when they asked about the vetting process for al-Abdulmohsen's contact with the Saudi Arabian authorities. Unfortunately, the verifiability of the information remained unclear. Al-Abdulmohsen presented his cell phone as proof of contact, but this did not make the situation any less complicated.
Saudi Arabia and the death penalty
The situation in Saudi Arabia is cause for concern. Over the last few days, 17 people have been executed there, many of them foreign citizens, some for “terrorist crimes” and drug offenses such as hashish smuggling. The Daily Mirror reports that a total of 239 executions have already taken place in 2025, making the Kingdom one of the countries with the most executions in the world.
In the same year, 161 of these executions were carried out for drug-related offenses, and reports of the executions have drawn strong international criticism. Human rights organizations such as Reprieve point out that people who are in precarious legal situations or who are being persecuted for political reasons are often executed.
In this context, it becomes clear that al-Abdulmohsen not only brings a dangerous past with him from Saudi Arabia, but also risks for security in Germany, considering the social and political tensions that such asylum cases can create.
How the discussion about the granting of asylum will develop remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the actions and questions surrounding al-Abdulmohsen will remain in the public's memory for a long time.