STUTTGART, Germany, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A German court's decision to grant parole to one of the country's most notorious terrorists has sparked mixed reactions.
Brigitte Mohnhaupt, a leader of the leftist terrorist group Red Army Faction in the late 1970s, was paroled by a state superior court in Stuttgart Monday, on the grounds that the 57-year-old no longer posed a risk to society. Mohnhaupt was serving a life sentence (which carries a 25-year penalty) for her role in murdering three high-ranking German industry officials.
Most politicians said the verdict was the right decision.
"We have always said we have no political prisoners in Germany, so we have to treat her the same as any other criminal," Klaus-Uwe Benneter, a senior Social Democrat lawmaker Monday told German news channel n-tv.
Yet police unions and the relatives of the 34 people killed by the RAF said they were angry that the once merciless terrorist leader is now set free.
Mohnhaupt's appeal to be paroled was preceded by heated discussion in Germany on whether the country's terrorists should be granted mercy.
Another RAF terrorist, Christian Klar, has also appealed to be released; his legal parole option doesn't arrive until 2009, but he has asked German President Horst Koehler to pardon him.
Klar's appeal is seen as much more controversial, as he has not really shown remorse for his actions.
