Press release from families and loved ones of the Ulm 25th May 2026, Stuttgart-Stammheim
Next hearings: 29th May, 15th June – 9:00 at Asperger Str. 47, 70439 Stuttgart
A mockery of presumption of innocence; lack of fair trial conditions: The Ulm5’s court conditions contravene basic human rights including fair trial rights (Article 6, European Convention on Human Rights) and the EU Directive on the Presumption of Innocence 2016. Despite the defence team repeatedly pressing the judge on these points, the rights of the five continue to be violated as they are escorted into court gripped by security in riot gear, presented in handcuffs to the press, enclosed in a glass box, and unable to speak confidentially with their lawyers. The court has failed to give any legal or factual justification for these conditions as required by European Court of Human Rights rulings.
To imply that Daniel, Crow, Leandra, Vi, and Zo are dangerous is absurd: The Ulm5 have not harmed or threatened anyone, nor are they accused of doing so; they have no previous convictions; they awaited arrest peacefully on 8th September 2025; and have conducted themselves peacefully throughout – at the police station, in their respective prisons, and at all court hearings.
Defence not permitted to transcribe proceedings, a basic element of a fair trial: The judge has repeatedly denied the defence the right to hire a note-taker to record a transcript of proceedings and on Friday 22nd May also denied them the right to an audio recording of proceedings. It is clear from the actioned minutes (the ‘Protokoll’) that the judge's choice of record is grossly inadequate. The prosecutor claimed that recording was not necessary as this trial is not of contemporary public interest or historical significance. As the case relates to Germany's complicity in Israel's ongoing genocide of Palestinians, the loved ones of the Ulm5 strongly disagree.
Court conditions not normal for Germany – akin to Russia: As pointed out by the defence, the Ulm5's trial conditions resemble those in countries that Germany criticizes for human rights violations. Yet at another trial in the same Stammheim courtroom (dealing with much more serious charges than the Ulm5 face), defendants sit not in the glass box but next to their lawyers, without handcuffs. This evidence discredits the prosecutor’s and judge’s claims that the Ulm5’s conditions are standard and dictated by the architectural features of the room.
Judge halts Ulm5 testimonies, picks a fight with a member of the public: Defendants' testimonies are usually heard on the first trial day. During the first defendant's statement, fleeting applause by a member of the public caused such offence to the presiding judge that she called for a recess, so a two-second ‘disruption’ became yet another half-hour delay. Instead of then resuming proceedings, she demanded security identify the ‘culprit’ and march them to the bench. She then began conducting a ‘trial within a trial’, reading their personal data into her live microphone – an apparent violation of German data privacy laws – and attempted to question them. Amid defence and public confusion, the judge once again adjourned early for the day, preventing the first defendant from finishing their testimony and the other four from even coming to voice.
Judge runs proceedings for just a few hours daily: Judge Kathrin Lauchstädt presides over excessively slow proceedings, never running a full 9–5 court day for no clear reason. If this continues, she may indeed need an 8½ month-long trial as threatened last week. Once again on 22nd May she appeared over an hour late. Despite repeated defence requests for shorter recesses, citing the principle of expeditious proceedings, yet again she announced a two-hour lunch break, and yet again shut down the day’s proceedings prematurely. This shocking waste of public funds is also disrespectful to the lawyers, families, loved ones, supporters, and press who travel long distances within Germany and internationally to attend.
Lawyers lodge application for judge to rein in security intimidation: The Ulm5 defence has formally requested the court to curb the behaviour of the security staff. Up to 13 riot-gear clad security ‘Justizbeamten’ repeatedly overstep their authority, frequently donning reinforced leather gloves and corralling the public aggressively. They have confiscated pens and paper and expelled individuals from the courtroom without the required orders from the judge. Individual members of the public are increasingly singled out and threatened. This continues the trend from the first trial day (27th April): when the judge suddenly suspended proceedings halfway through the day, amid quiet publich confusion, security staff shouted aggressively at them to leave immediately or be removed with violence (‘mit Gewalt!’).
Court staff assault family, journalists, other attendees during security check: After entering the building, having scanned and removed all personal items, and having passed through a body scanner without issue, many women were targeted with rough, painful intimate body ‘searches’ that they describe as amounting to assault: at least two journalists, Palestine/climate activist Greta Thunberg, friends, and the three mothers of the Ulm5 who attended on Friday.
Daniel, Crow, Leandra, Zo, and Vi remain unnecessarily in harsh remand conditions: In their five respective prisons, they continue to endure harsh treatment. Indeed the denial of liberties without a speedy trial is in itself a violation of the German constitution and EU conventions. Some prison conditions amount to abuse of human rights, such as insufficient food and solitary confinement for 23 hours per day (UN experts consider solitary from 22 hour per day as torture). In Germany, pre-trial detention is uncommon, and even terror suspects are routinely released on bail. The case of the Ulm5, in contrast, essentially amounts to destruction of property with no harm caused or alleged to others.
As the Ulm5 continue to face legal and human rights violations, both in prison and in the courtroom, it's clear that as long as Judge Kathrin Lauchstädt presides, there is no potential for justice to be served.
Her removal is essential for any chance of restoring not only the Ulm5's basic human rights but also any credibility of the German justice system.
Families and partners are available for interviews: ulm5family@proton.me
Visit www.ulm5.info for all press releases from lawyers and family as well as all trial dates
Instagram: @theulm5