Covert surveillance, also on the Internet, reporting requirements, rayon or contact bans, even if those affected have not yet been convicted of a crime. These measures in the law on police measures against terrorism (PMT) were approved by those entitled to vote at the ballot box. Now the canton of Schaffhausen has applied for such a measure for the first time, specifically in the case of a convicted sympathizer of the terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS).
The Police Measures Against Terrorism Act (PMT) applies when the authorities have concrete and current indications that an individual is planning terrorist activities. This was apparently the case in the canton of Schaffhausen. The canton submitted a request for police measures last week to the responsible authority, the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol), confirmed Councilor Cornelia Stamm Hurter.
First known request for PMT
It is the first application from a canton based on the new PMT law to be announced. The Fedpol will now decide. Neither the federal government nor the canton of Schaffhausen want to publicly explain which measures have been requested and against whom they are aimed.
In Schaffhausen, Stamm Hurter only confirms “that it is a person resident in the canton”. Further information is not possible due to privacy protection.
Legend:
The government building of the canton of Schaffhausen in the monastery district of Schaffhausen.
KEYSTONE / Christian Beutler
A few weeks ago, however, Stamm Hurter told the “Schaffhauser Nachrichten” that the canton was preparing a corresponding application. According to the article, the person concerned is a sympathizer of the “Islamic State” who has been convicted by the Federal Criminal Court.
«Man as a challenge for the authorities»
The man, who has Iraqi citizenship, has long been a challenge for the authorities. He should have been deported after serving his sentence. Because he was threatened with torture and death in Iraq, he could not be deported because international law provides for it. The man now lives in Schaffhausen again and teaches in a mosque there.
A statement by Fedpol director Nicoletta della Valle indicates that the federal government still considers the man dangerous: In the media last year, she explained that Fedpol was expecting a request from Schaffhausen for the surveillance measures in accordance with the new law.
If the Confederation approves these counter-terrorism measures now requested by the canton, reporting requirements or district bans, among other things, are possible. According to the law, house arrest is also conceivable. The canton of Schaffhausen would then be responsible for implementing these measures.