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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Germany warns Indian students: Avoid agents offering 'complete package'
Indian students planning to study in Germany are being urged to avoid agents offering "complete packages" amid rising visa fraud, fake documents, and legal risks Surbhi Gloria Singh New Delhi Germany has warned Indian students against relying on agents offering 'complete packages' for studying abroad. The advice was give by German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann on Tuesday, even as he invited Indian students to consider Germany as their first choice for higher education. Look for universities on your own, he said. 'We want to encourage every student to individually search for universities, avoiding agents who will offer you a complete package, which sometimes is not a satisfaction,' said Ackermann. These packages often include admission, visa paperwork, accommodation and job placements—but not always reliably. Divya Singh, advocate at Jotwani Associates, said the warning is rooted in rising cases of fraud, document misrepresentation and legal problems faced by students who went through agents. Ajay Khatalawala, managing partner at Little & Co, added, 'This guidance is meant to assist students in taking educated decisions and avoiding any pitfalls associated with relying solely on third-party intermediaries. While such services may look handy, they frequently lack transparency and dependability essential for successful admission and settlement in a foreign academic setting.' What could go wrong? Khatalawala said some agents do not provide accurate details about visa rules, university accreditation or part-time work regulations. In some cases, students arrive in Germany to discover their chosen institutions are not recognised for long-term study or visa renewal. 'For instance, a student enrols through such a package, realises upon arriving in Germany that the institution was not eligible for visa renewal, resulting in an early termination of his stay,' he said. 'While the student might not be prosecuted, he experiences significant inconvenience and financial loss.' Fake documents and visa delays In 2022, Ackermann had pointed out that nearly 15% of Indian student visa applicants submitted fake documents. 'We have to ensure that only the deserving students go to Germany,' he said. At present, thousands of Indian students are awaiting visas to start academic courses in Germany. 'We are very unhappy about the current situation. It is a big concern for us, because we want Indians to get visas smoothly and quickly,' Ackermann said, calling the delays 'heart-breaking'. Divya Singh listed the legal and immigration-related risks of working with such agents: 1. Lack of accreditation or regulation Most agents are not authorised by any academic or immigration body. There is no legal oversight on the services they offer. 2. Misrepresentation and forged documents Some agents submit fake admission letters or altered academic records. Forgery is a criminal offence under Section 267 of the German Criminal Code, with penalties including fines and jail. 3. Visa rejection and deportation Students presenting false papers risk visa refusal or deportation at the border. German immigration officers can detain and return individuals upon arrival. 5. No legal recourse Most such agents do not offer contracts or refunds. Victims of fraud often have no legal remedy. For instance, in mid-2023, Indian students using a consultancy in Punjab were detained at Frankfurt airport. Their admission letters were either fake or from unrecognised institutions. Families had paid between ₹4 and ₹8 lakh each for the process. Students were deported, blacklisted in the Schengen system, and left in debt. What Indian students should do instead Legal experts recommend the following steps: Apply only through official university websites or DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Check that the institution is recognised in official accreditation databases Consult the German Embassy or certified education counsellors Avoid agents who offer job guarantees or 'package deals' 'Unless there is deliberate misbehaviour, most students are unlikely to face criminal charges,' said Khatalawala. 'However, immigration consequences such as non-renewal of residence permits or restrictions on future applications remain serious.'
Russia Today
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
German court sentences journalist for meme
A German district court has sentenced David Bendels, editor-in-chief of the conservative publication Deutschland-Kurier, to a suspended seven-month prison term for defaming Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser through a satirical meme. The controversial meme, posted on Deutschland-Kurier's X account in February 2024, showed Faeser holding a sign altered to read: 'I hate freedom of expression.' The original photo featured the phrase 'We Remember,' part of a Holocaust remembrance campaign. Faeser's legal team filed a criminal complaint, which led to a fine and Monday's sentencing by the Bamberg District Court in Upper Franconia, Bavaria. The court found Bendels guilty under Section 188 of the German Criminal Code – a rarely invoked provision sometimes referred to as the 'lese-majeste' or 'injured majesty' law – which penalizes defamation of public officials, Deutschland-Kurier reported . READ MORE: Germany charges pensioner for sharing meme Noting that Bendels had no prior criminal record, the court suspended the sentence and placed him on two years' probation. It also reportedly ordered him to issue a written apology to Faeser. Bendels and his legal team have vowed to appeal the verdict, arguing that the meme was protected under the rights to freedom of expression and the press. They claim the case sets a troubling precedent for journalistic freedom in Germany. 'We will not accept this verdict and will challenge it by all legal means,' Bendels said. 'Deutschland-Kurier and I will personally continue the fight for freedom of the press and expression – firmly, consistently, and with all consequences necessary for the continuation of democracy in Germany.' READ MORE: Vance blasts 'Orwellian' German laws Earlier this year, US Vice President J.D. Vance criticized what he called 'Orwellian' German speech laws, referring to an interview with three German state prosecutors who explained that insulting someone in public or online is a punishable offense. The interview, aired by CBS, was recorded amid a wave of coordinated police raids across Germany targeting more than 50 individuals accused of spreading hate speech online.
Gulf Insider
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
AfD-Supporting Lawyer Fined €3,000 For Criticizing German Govt, Has Gun License Revoked, Faces Disbarment
The debate over free speech in Germany has taken a new turn following the case of Markus Roscher, a 61-year-old lawyer from Braunschweig, who was fined €3,000 for criticizing the government's heating law. Roscher described Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock as 'malicious failures' in a post on X back in 2021. He was subsequently issued a penalty notice under the controversial Paragraph 188 of the German Criminal Code, which criminalized defamation against individuals engaged in public political life. Roscher, who has been active on X for over 14 years and is well accustomed to the legal boundaries surrounding political debate, insists that his post was within the bounds of political criticism. 'I actually know myself to be quite well within the red lines,' he told Bild. 'You have to formulate things pointedly to be heard. The lines of freedom of opinion have slipped with the red-green government (ed. the coalition of Social Democrats and Greens).' He further described his hefty fine as a 'scandal for freedom of expression.' Paragraph 188, introduced in April 2021, criminalizes insults against politicians if they significantly hinder their public work. It was initially passed under a coalition government of the CDU and SPD but has been increasingly enforced under the current administration. The law has led to numerous prosecutions against individuals who have criticized government officials online. In Roscher's case, the penalty order claimed that his statements portrayed politicians as 'corrupt, stupid, and arrogant,' constituting 'abusive criticism' that allegedly impeded their political activity. Will memes be targeted in Germany next?"Misinformation" expert hints that restrictions are coming."There is no right to be heard on social media…This is the problem of the next few years, especially when it comes to ambiguous or cryptic communication, such as memes." — Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) January 16, 2025 Following the charge, authorities also moved to revoke his gun license, citing 'unreliability.' Furthermore, his case was forwarded to the Kassel and Braunschweig Bar Associations, raising concerns that he could face professional sanctions. 'If I now claim the same or something similar and get another conviction exceeding 90 daily rates, I can lose my license,' Roscher warned. 'Then you get a job ban as a 61-year-old lawyer!' Roscher believes that his support for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) has played a pivotal role in his prosecution. He asserts that the penalty order was politically motivated, arguing that he stood little chance in a legal battle, which led him to pay the fine without challenging it in the courts. The scrutiny of political affiliations within Germany's public sector was also highlighted by a leaked memo last month revealing that federal police officers who join or actively support the AfD could face disciplinary action, including dismissal. The memo cited a decree by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, explicitly stating that officers suspected of affiliation with the party could see their employment terminated. The controversy has drawn international attention from U.S. billionaire Elon Musk and most recently from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who labeled Germany's online speech laws this week as 'Orwellian.' Responding to a CBS '60 Minutes' interview with German prosecutors, Vance argued that Germany was effectively 'criminalizing speech' and urged Europeans to 'reject this lunacy.' Roscher's case is part of a broader pattern of speech-related prosecutions in Germany. Click here to read more…
Russia Today
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Vance blasts ‘Orwellian' German laws
The criminalization of free speech in the EU could put a 'strain' on relations between Washington and its allies there, US Vice President J.D. Vance said on Monday, calling on Western nations on both sides of the Atlantic to 'reject' such policies. 'This is Orwellian,' the vice president wrote in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). He was referring to an interview with three German state prosecutors released by the US broadcaster CBS on Sunday. Focused on Germany's efforts to fight offensive content on the internet, the interview included the prosecutors saying that insulting anyone in public or online is a crime in their country. The interview was recorded against the background of a series of coordinated raids recently launched by German police against some 50 individuals suspected of spreading hate speech online. People found guilty of such crimes in the federal republic could face fines or even jail time in the event of repeat offenses, according to the prosecutors. 'They don't think it was illegal. And they say, 'No, that's my free speech',' one of the prosecutors, Dr. Matthaus Fink, told CBS. 'And we say, 'No, you have free speech as well, but it also has its limits'.' The courts can also order the confiscation of their electronic devices, the prosecutors said. People are usually 'shocked' when it happens, another prosecutor, Frank-Michael Laue, said. 'It's a kind of punishment if you lose your smartphone. It's even worse than the fine you have to pay.' The German Criminal Code states that anyone who 'attacks the human dignity of others by insulting, maliciously disparaging or slandering' them in a way that is 'likely to disturb the public peace' can face up to five years behind bars. The legislation is primarily aimed against insults linked to one's race, nationality, religion or ethnic background but is not limited to these. According to CBS, the German laws specifically prohibit the spread of malicious gossip, violent threats and fake quotes online. Reposting false information is punished as well, the broadcaster said, citing the prosecutors. Vance responded to the interview by saying that 'insulting someone is not a crime, and criminalizing speech is going to put real strain on European-US relationships.' He then called on 'everyone in Europe and the US' to 'reject this lunacy.' The statement came just days after the vice president sharply criticized Washington's EU allies for abandoning their core values, including free speech, as well as fearing their own voters and failing to uphold democratic principles at the Munich Security Conference. His words were lauded by President Donald Trump, who called Vance's speech 'brilliant.' 'In Europe they're losing their wonderful right of freedom of speech,' Trump said on Friday.
