'Sharia police' free to walk the streets of Germany after court acquits seven members
A TEAM of seven men who wore vests emblazoned with the words 'Sharia Police' have been found not guilty after a controversial court case in Germany.
Germany's Sharia police are allowed to go about their daily business
The men belong to the ultra-conservative Islamic Salafist reform movement which teaches followers to engage in "physical" jihadism.
At the time of their arrest two years ago the men sparked outrage with their vigilante patrols in the western city of Wuppertal.
However a judge ruled all of the men did not break any laws and cleared them with impunity yesterday.
Mr Lau says he likes the media attention and that women love bad boys
In the last month I think 10 women wanted to marry me…from models to women who are totally covered
Their leader Sven Lau encouraged the men to go out in the streets near the city's central station to warn members of the public against acts which broke Sharia law.
They told the public to refrain from drinking alcohol, listening to music and gambling.
It is reported they said that the public at large should behave in accordance with the Muslim religious code.
Wuppertal has been the scene of protest by Islamic supporters
Judges cleared the men aged between 25 and 34 years because they said their uniforms were not "suggestively militant”.
They also did not find evidence that the uniforms had an "intimidating effect".
All of the men were cleared because it could not be established that they were wearing their orange coloured vests to intentionally break the law.
The news comes as their leader Mr Lau, 35, is currently facing trial after being accused of supporting the Jamwa group of Islamist foreign fighters in Syria.
Sharia police publicly cane people for breaking harsh laws like here in Indonesia
Prosecutors have not yet brought terrorism charges against him.
However, it is being considered as the trial, which is expected to run until January, continues.
It is alleged that Mr Lau was behind a plan to transport two Islamists to join Jamwa, Jaysh al-Muhajirin wal-Ansar, which is known in English as the "Army of the Emigrants and Helpers".
Lawyers have denied he provided the group with money and night-vision goggles.
Mr Lau has been in detention since his arrest last December.
In October 2014, Mr Lau spoke to a reporter from the website Vice.
He told the reporter he had been married twice and had fathered five children.
His current wife is a German woman of Moroccan decent.
He said: "The press? They help us.
“People love bad boys. Women love bad boys.
"In the last month I think 10 women wanted to marry me…from models to women who are totally covered.”
Mr Lau is reported to have converted from Christianity to Islam two decades ago and changed his name to Abu Adam.