Accused rejects translator in court
Published: Wednesday, May 29th 2024, 12:00
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During the trial of a Syrian man living in Switzerland for attempted coercion, the accused refused the translator. This was because the man did not want to say whether he was a Muslim. The 30-year-old has been diagnosed with a severe mental disorder.
"That's an unfair group there in the chair," said the defendant on Wednesday before the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona. If the translator did not say whether he was Muslim, he should leave the courtroom. The presiding judge reminded the man of his right to refuse to testify.
After a brief deliberation, the court rejected the request by the defendant's lawyer to remove the man's handcuffs. Due to the "behavior shown so far", the handcuffs would be left on, explained the presiding judge.
The 30-year-old had threatened to kill the editorial staff of the satirical magazine "Charlie Hebdo" if they published cartoons of Mohammed. The 30-year-old was diagnosed with a severe mental disorder and incapacity.
©Keystone/SDA
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