German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged German media to clearly name the Afghan teen suspected of raping and killing a 19-year-old medical student in the city of Freiburg.
The 17-year-old migrant was arrested Friday after he was identified by CCTV footage and his DNA was matched to the crime scene. Tagesschau, Germany’s most-watched news show, received harsh criticism for not reporting on the arrest. (RELATED: Afghan Refugee Arrested For Rape, Murder Of Top EU Official)
Tagesschau editor Kai Gniffke said the show “very rarely reports on individual criminal cases” and that the story was too regional to be included.
Merkel warned the media to not hide the identity of the suspect when she commented on the case for the first time Monday.
“This is a terrible murder, and if it turns out to be an Afghan refugee, he has to be condemned, and be clearly named just like any other murderer,” Merkel said Monday night.
Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel asked citizens and politicians to refrain from using the arrest for “rabble-rousing and conspiracy propaganda.” Merkel said refugees don’t deserve to be judged as a group based on the actions of one individual.
“The murder case should not be connected with the rejection of a whole group,” she said.
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