BERLIN
The German Cabinet has adopted draft legislation which would criminalize attempts by nationals to travel abroad to join militant groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, or ISIL.
According to the new draft agreed Wednesday, Germans who are convicted of the offenses will face up to 10 years in jail.
German Justice Minister Heiko Maas said in a written statement: "Travelling abroad to a region with terror camps will be punishable if the purpose of the travel is related to committing a serious act of violent subversion.
"We should do everything to prevent further radicalization of Islamists in these training camps."
Germany’s move to strengthen its anti-terror legislation followed the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution in September last year, which called on member states to take all necessary measures to prevent the international flow of terrorist fighters to and from conflict zones.
Heavy sentences
The new legislation will enable German authorities to open investigation about potential foreign fighters under penal code and prevent their travel abroad.
According to a second proposed amendment, financial support for terrorist organizations, including small amounts of donations, would be punished by heavier sentences.
The draft legislation is likely to be approved in parliament as Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative-left coalition government enjoys an overwhelming majority.
More than 13,000 fighters from more than 80 countries have joined ISIL and other militant groups in Syria and Iraq, according to the UN. German domestic intelligence estimates that more than 600 people from Germany travelled to Syria and Iraq and joined these groups, while about 200 returned to the country.
