Systemic imperfections exposed in Friedland's case

A tragic murder case in the town of Friedland, Lower Saxony, has once again brought the Dublin procedure into question. On August 11, 2023, a 16-year-old girl lost her life after being pushed in front of a freight train traveling at 100 km/h. The suspected murderer, a 31-year-old Iraqi man, is currently under detention in a psychiatric clinic.

The Dublin procedure, a system that regulates the distribution of asylum seekers in Europe, has been the subject of concern due to its perceived dysfunctionality. According to the Dublin procedure, the suspect, whose name remains undisclosed in the sources, should have been in Lithuania, not Germany.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) expressed his anger about the case on Welt TV, stating that it tragically demonstrates the dysfunctionality of the Dublin procedure. Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) echoed this sentiment, stating that the case highlights major problems with the Dublin procedure.

The suspect is accused of pushing the girl, who had fled from Ukraine to Germany in 2022 with her family, in front of the train. DNA traces from the suspect were found on the victim's shoulder, providing evidence for the allegations.

The interior minister believes that a country overwhelmed with a high number of refugees will show non-functioning systems. Dobrindt finds the case revealing of system failures and has expressed his concerns about why the suspect was still in Germany at the time of the crime.

In response to the case, Lower Saxony's Interior Ministry will inform the responsible committee of the state parliament about the case on Thursday. As the Dublin procedure continues to be a topic of concern, it is hoped that this tragic event will lead to necessary reforms and improvements in the system.