Germany arrests Pakistani accused of spying for Iran

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

BERLIN: German authorities have arrested a Pakistani man accused of spying for Iran on the former head of a group that promotes German-Israeli relations.

Federal prosecutors said Thursday that the 31-year-old, identified only as Syed Mustufa H. in keeping with German privacy rules, was arrested on Tuesday in the northern city of Bremen.

They said in a statement that he was "in contact with an intelligence unit attributed to Iran," without elaborating. He is alleged to have spied on the former head of the German-Israeli Society and people close to him, among others, and handed over information to Iran in October.

The ex-head of the German-Israeli group, former lawmaker Reinhold Robbe, told the Bild newspaper that he wasn't surprised by the alleged espionage and he "will not be intimidated."

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Zak

Jul 08, 2016 03:38pm

Pakistani citizens are unjustly targetted around the world, govt should create a dedicated judicial task force to help fight the legal cases of Pakistanis accused falsely in any part of the world.

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Raj Patel

Jul 08, 2016 05:11pm

@Zak Kudos to your pessimism.

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Fateh

Jul 08, 2016 05:14pm

@Zak , I agree with you... Means how can a Pakistani be a criminal..

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Kashmiri

Jul 08, 2016 06:47pm

Why Pakistan always. There has to be something wrong

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Shujaat Khan

Jul 08, 2016 06:47pm

@Fateh haha good one.

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amir_indian

Jul 08, 2016 07:12pm

@Zak India and South Africa on Friday agreed to deepen engagement in key areas of defence production, manufacturing, mining and minerals while vowing to cooperate "actively" in combating terrorism

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ahaq

Jul 08, 2016 07:22pm

Why don't they catch Isreali agents who spy on Germany and all western countries including US. At least the US caught one called Jonathan Pollard who sold US military secrets to Russians through Israel.

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Ekansh Singh

Jul 08, 2016 07:25pm

Thts just sad and tarnish the image of Pakistan.

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Mazhar

Jul 08, 2016 07:27pm

Exactly this is misuse of Pakistani passport

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Nivas

Jul 08, 2016 07:33pm

@Zak - ha ha ha ha ha ha ha .......

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Nivas

Jul 08, 2016 07:34pm

@Kashmiri - dates back to 7th century AD....

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Rajesh

Jul 08, 2016 07:35pm

@Zak Rather than getting "unjustly targetted"the best thing would be for all Pakistanis to return to Pakistan, so it would make it easier for other countries

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Rafi Ka Deewana

Jul 08, 2016 07:39pm

A bit of sarcasm - Pakistan's way to be on the good books with Iran in a "secretive" way!

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Shrish

Jul 08, 2016 07:39pm

Another feather in the cap...

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Prapur

Jul 08, 2016 07:48pm

Pakistani in news again in Germany one major member of EU for doing something wrong or criminal. It is high time Pakistanis will be banned unless GOP gets serious and act, it is not just India now the world is finding it out and making India's job more easier to isolate it. China will not be able to help everywhere and how long?

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Jawaid kamal

Jul 08, 2016 07:56pm

Must be conspiracy

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surya

Jul 08, 2016 07:59pm

@Zak good joke.keep it up.

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Markandeya

Jul 08, 2016 08:10pm

Zak is right.The world is against Pakistan and Pakistanis. Conspiracy theories, anyone?

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Jul 08, 2016 08:13pm

Great news keep Pakistan flag high around the globe. Only Sheikh Rashid know solution

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Sunil

Jul 08, 2016 08:41pm

@Zak Why dont you fight for them Zak, if you are confident?

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Sunil

Jul 08, 2016 08:41pm

Once again where is Sartaz Aziz and FO? Every country is maligning Pakistan?

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Sunil

Jul 08, 2016 08:42pm

@Kashmiri Blame the system, eh!

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Narvinnie

Jul 08, 2016 08:55pm

@Fateh Wake up and smell the coffee man. Why Pakistani think about it

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anon

Jul 08, 2016 08:55pm

Answer to Raheel's 'friendly' visit to Germany! Germans are not fools.

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Jul 08, 2016 08:55pm

Time for PK to be honest ..... With self, problem is within ..accept it.

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IBMX

Jul 08, 2016 08:57pm

@Zak Are you doubting the German for finding a Pakistani spying for Iran? or that you claim there are NO such spies from Pakistan, any where ?

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Devesh

Jul 08, 2016 09:11pm

Thank God accused not arrested in India but in Germany for spying on Iran.Now what justification will Pak give to the world. Will Pak ask for counselor access.

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The End is Near

Jul 08, 2016 09:42pm

Well done Germany. Kick him out.

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saleem

Jul 08, 2016 09:44pm

@FATEh well said

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rajdhani

Jul 08, 2016 09:45pm

@Zak Please see a doctor

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Chanakya

Jul 08, 2016 09:56pm

Here goes the other one .I am seeing tough visa regulations for Pakistanis abroad .

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Amit

Jul 08, 2016 10:00pm

@Zak if you are old enough then why don't you study law and become lawyer for these so called innocent Pakistani around the world. Fight their case

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Insaf

Jul 08, 2016 10:18pm

@Zak are you joking? Countries in world is not mad. There must be criminal factor

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Al-Fukri

Jul 08, 2016 10:49pm

@Fateh You made my day buddy. hahaha :-).

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ragu

Jul 08, 2016 10:58pm

@Zak Of course ZAK, How can a Pakistani citizen ever do something wrong? All these statements from Germany, Saudi Arabia are a part of a global conspiracy to malign a great nation of peace loving and tolerant people. Keep having such wishful hallucinations instead of genuine efforts to find and fix what has gone wrong with your community; around the globe all are wrong when it comes to Pakistani acts of objectionable type.

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NDA

Jul 08, 2016 11:03pm

First , names are similar in Iran, Afghanistan, India and Afghanistan. It is not difficult to obtain passports either. One must check what nationality actually he was from. Further, Iran is recruiting Shias from Pakistan and Afghanistan for conflict in the Middle East and offering nationality to heirs if the persons get killed in battle. This is devilish conduct and India is party to it for obvious reasons.

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Enen

Jul 08, 2016 11:55pm

Poverty makes them leave the country. Shock of futility that this effort is a waste makes them earn by Hook or Crook. These cases abound no surprise.

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Zak

Jul 09, 2016 01:31am

@Zak An Indian working in UAE passport govt department was caught spying for India.

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jai hind

Jul 09, 2016 02:23am

our pious men can never do anything wrong. whole world is against us. lets stay in our own cocoon.

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Zak

Jul 09, 2016 04:40am

@Kashmiri Yes Kashmir is not with us, that makes it wrong.

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Iqbal Aswani

Jul 09, 2016 05:31am

Pakistan is the only country in the world having no foreign policy. The Kings of Pakistan are busy building their personal empires. They damn care about any single common Pakistani, be in home or abroad.

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Pratap

Jul 09, 2016 07:25am

@Zak, I agree with you.

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Tushar Singh

Jul 09, 2016 07:28am

Pakistanis are like those drivers who drive in the wrong lane and then blame the entire traffic of choosing a wrong lane.

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Red Planet

Jul 09, 2016 08:30am

@Zak what you mean by unjustly targetted ?

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J&K

Jul 09, 2016 09:59am

Lol..why everywhere Pakistanis r targeted?? @Zak why every terrorists r found in Pakistan??

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Tapish

Jul 09, 2016 12:59pm

@Zak Instead appeal to the fellowmen to follow local laws and customs. Fighting legal cases for all will be very costly and embolden other criminals to break the law.

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