German Taliban fighter quits; is on trial

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BERLIN, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A German man who went to Pakistan to fight for the Taliban says he left the extremist group because of their drug use and "macho" attitude toward women.

Thomas U., 27, is on trial in Berlin for involvement in a foreign terrorist group, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

In autumn of 2009, Thomas U. and his wife traveled to Pakistan's Waziristan province to free the area from the "infidel occupiers" after the couple had converted to Islam, the suspect said in court.

However, Thomas U. said he soon became disheartened after seeing the remains of three fellow Germans killed by Pakistani army shelling.

"The sight of their badly mangled bodies moved me," he said. "I was scared and I wanted to get out. Waziristan was not what I was looking for."

He also said he did not care for other Taliban members' drug usage or their "macho" attitude to women.

In September 2010 the couple fled Pakistan and made their way to Turkey, where they were arrested.

"I regret leaving Germany and regret my crimes," Thomas U. told the court.