Wuppertal's "Shariah" Police

From the DW:
"German court acquits seven members of Wuppertal's 'Shariah police'"

A court in the western German city of Wuppertal has said that seven Islamists who formed a "shariah police" last year did not break any law. The men sparked outrage with their vigilante patrols in the city two years ago. Judges at Wuppertal's district court said on Monday that the seven accused members of the group did not break any laws while wearing orange vests bearing the words "shariah police."  According to the judges, one could have spoken of a violation only if the uniforms were "suggestively militant" or had had an "intimidating effect." Judges referred to an eye-witness saying that he thought the men wearing the vests were having a bachelor party. They also said that there was no proof to suggest that the men - all between 25 and 34 years of age - were wearing the vests intentionally to break the law. Furthermore, judges said that police in Wuppertal also did not find anything punishable about the men wearing the vests, which were not seized by the officers. There was therefore no reason to punish the men. The ruling has not yet come into effect and the state prosecutor can still appeal against it. The "shariah police" caused a furore in 2014 when its members, headed by Salafist leader Sven Lau, patrolled streets near Wuppertal's central station, telling people to refrain from drinking alcohol, listening to music and gambling - in accordance with the Muslim religious code of conduct, known as the "Sharia." Lau is a controversial Islamist preacher and is currently on trial for backing a terror group fighting in Syria. Similar "sharia police" groups have been reportedly operating in London, Copenhagen and Hamburg.

^ This is disgusting: both the fact that these "shariah police" are allowed to impose their views on innocent people and the fact that the German judges acquitted them. The picture of the seven men wearing the orange vests with the words "Shariah police" on the back clearly shows that the men are trying to act in an official capacity - otherwise they wouldn't have the words on them especially not "police." I have a friend who works in Wuppertal and went to the city 2 years ago next month. I would be sickened to see and hear these "religious police" trying to impose their brand of Islam on anyone.  I do not appreciate any group trying to impose their views on people in such a militant way (and using the word "police" is militant in my opinion.) When I go to a Muslim/Arab country I respect their laws and culture regardless if I don't agree with them or think they strange and so should these "shariah police." They should respect the laws and culture of Germany and Shariah law is not part of that. If they don't like it then they can move to one of several countries that has Shariah law, but to harass and intimidate people for following their own culture and traditions in their own country is wrong and should not be allowed in Germany or anywhere. ^

http://www.dw.com/en/german-court-acquits-seven-members-of-wuppertals-shariah-police/a-36472883