Four Syrian brothers have been sentenced to between four and seven and a half years in prison for the attempted murder of a German teacher who was allegedly having an affair with their mother.
According to Bild, the Itzehoe Regional Court found that the brothers believed their family’s honor had been violated and jointly planned the revenge attack at the Wedel Adult Education Center in Schleswig-Holstein.
Two of the brothers who were 21 at the time, Ali A. and Salih A., were each sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. Omar A., who was 19, received a six-year juvenile sentence, while Besam A., who was 17, was sentenced to four years in juvenile detention.
The verdicts are not yet legally binding and are subject to appeal.
According to NDR, the brothers lured the teacher, Hisham A., to the center’s parking lot under the false pretense that the youngest brother needed help with a German writing project.
One brother distracted the teacher in conversation while another kept watch. A third approached him from behind, slashed his neck with a knife, and stabbed him three times.
The attack damaged the teacher’s lung and spine, leaving him with potentially fatal injuries.
The court ruled that the assault amounted to jointly committed attempted murder and aggravated assault.
According to Welt, prosecutors said the brothers had discovered the alleged extramarital relationship between the teacher and their mother on the evening before the attack.
The teacher had previously given German lessons to the brothers’ parents.
The youngest brother was not believed to have been physically present during the stabbing but was convicted over his role in planning the attack and communicating with his brothers.
His defense attorney had sought an acquittal, arguing that he had only exchanged messages with the others and had not attended the scene.
The defense also argued that the eldest brother had been present but had not participated in the attack. The court rejected both arguments and largely followed the sentences requested by prosecutors.
The teacher suffered life-threatening wounds to his neck, shoulders, and lungs but narrowly survived. He had spent years volunteering to support refugees and taught German at the adult education center. Several months before the attack, Wedel’s mayor awarded him a medal of honor for his work.
