"The freedom of movement is a central human right. I would like to remind you that only dictatorships restrict the right to travel, including by military methods," Papier told the German newspaper Die Welt. He added that this decision "would not correspond to Germany's Basic Law, or to the European Convention on Human Rights."
The law, which is aimed at confiscating suspected Islamic extremists' identity cards, was approved by the German government on Wednesday; it will deny them the freedom to travel within Europe. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere explained that the measure was taken with the aim of reducing the danger of Germans participating in terrorism at home and abroad.
German authorities already have the power to confiscate the passports of people suspected of joining extremist groups, but the new legislation, pending ratification by the Bundestag, will give authorities the power to take away their identity cards as well. Identity cards are used extensively in the EU, including for travel throughout EU member countries. The legal amendment's central aim is to deny potential combatants and terrorists the freedom to travel through Europe using the ID cards. At present, it is possible for would-be militants to travel from Germany through Europe to Turkey. From there, they can join Islamic State and Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups in Syria and Iraq.
The law was originally proposed last October as a measure aimed at preventing the 'export of terrorism'. Interior Minister Maiziere had then stated that he did not "want men and women to be radicalized here and to travel to Syria and Iraq to come back here ready to fight and to plan attacks."
According to Reuters, at least 550 Germans are suspected of having traveled to join the jihad in Syria. About 180 are believed to have returned to Germany; authorities are launching criminal investigations into their activities in Syria.
