German court halts deportation of Turk convicted of Islamist support

BERLIN – Germany's highest court on Tuesday halted the deportation of a Turkish citizen convicted of supporting an Islamist militant organization, saying authorities should first ensure he wouldn't face torture or inhumane prison conditions in Turkey.

The Federal Constitutional Court overturned a ruling by a lower court that ordered the deportation of the man, who was born and raised in Germany, after he was convicted of travelling to Syria and supporting a "terrorist organization."

Nearly a thousand people are believed to have left Germany to fight with Islamist militants. Some are now returning as the jihadist group's presence in the Middle East crumbles.