THE INDICTMENT
The Tribunal will identify the specific effects of export practices and will name and assess responsibilities. Charges include aiding and abetting murder, aiding and abetting war crimes, aiding and abetting human rights violations, and breaching international law.
The accused will be invited to attend the tribunal and defend themselves - if none of them are present, a public figure will present their publicly voiced arguments as a defense.
After the reading of the indictment, the prosecution will go into depth on four topics.
The specific situation of women in war will also be addressed in relation to these four themes.
In addition, the role of the Port of Hamburg as one of the world's hubs for armaments transports and the situation of dockworkers will be examined in detail.
Witnesses and experts will testify on each of the topics. The responsibility of the Hamburg Senate, the German government and the arms manufacturers will be demonstrated, with specific differences, and the role of the Port of Hamburg as a hub for arms transports will be made clear.
Each of the topics will be covered in depth for approximately four hours.
For the preparation of the indictment and the legal subsumption we are working together with Christian Schliemann (Senior Advisor at ECCHR), lawyer Anna Busl, lawyer Holger Rothbauer, Ralf Willinger (Terre des Hommes), among others. Some of them are also available as experts.
Afrin - Northern Syria/Rojava
Afrin is a city and in northwestern Syria, inhabited by a majority of Kurds. Since March 2018, Afrin has been occupied by Turkish forces and most of the original inhabitants have fled.
The turret and armored hull of the Leopard tank are produced in the port of Hamburg. This tank is being used by the Turkish army and Islamist mercenaries in the occupation of Afrin, which is illegal under international law. There, with the help of German weapons, ethnic cleansing, extra-legal executions, expulsions, enslavements, rapes and other war crimes and crimes against humanity are taking place.
Afrin before the war (Photo: Bertramz, wikimedia) | Kobane 2015 | Day of Remembrance of the IS attack on Kobane (Photos: Martin Dolzer)
Mexico and Colombia
In these two South American countries, human rights violations against opposition members up to and including murder take place on a regular basis. Weapons from Heckler und Koch and Sig Sauer are used in this context
Ammunition for these weapons is regularly (every quarter) transported to Mexico and Colombia via the port of Hamburg.
Yemen
German weapons are also being used in the Yemen war. The Lürssen shipyard repairs Saudi Arabian ships used in the Yemen war on site. Ammunition via the Port of Hamburg is regularly (every quarter) transported to the United Arab Emirates and from there finds its way to Yemen.
Child soldiers in African countries
Child soldiers are sent with German weapons to numerous wars in African countries. Witnesses and experts will report on this. Ammunition and weapons are transported to African countries via the port of Hamburg.
Status: 25.05.2022