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}}}>Begin Dec 14, 2001 Ashcroft Praises German Law Allowing Crackdown on Religious Organizations Deemed Extremist By David Rising Associated Press Writer BERLIN (AP) - Attorney General John Ashcroft praised Germany's newly enacted law that allows authorities to ban religious organizations used as fronts for extremists, saying Friday it was a necessary measure in the war on terrorism. The law, which came into force Dec. 8, was brought about after authorities investigating possible connections to the Sept. 11 terror attacks argued they were being hamstrung in their efforts by strict legislation protecting religious freedoms. Interior Minister Otto Schily made quick use of the new law, on Wednesday banning an Islamic organization he accused of being a "breeding ground for terrorists," and saying the legislation could lead to the expulsion of m any extremists who have been granted asylum in Germany. "We commend Germany for its actions to provide greater opportunity to detect and disrupt terrorism through a better framework of laws in Germany," Ashcroft said after meeting with Schily to talk about the legislation and the overall German investigation into the attacks, which U.S. and German authorities believe were planned by a terrorist cell of Osama bin Laden's al- Qaida network in the German city of Hamburg. Later in the day, the German government passed an even broader anti-terrorism package that will come into effect Jan. 1. Under the new laws, law enforcement agencies will be allowed to request information from financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and airlines - all of which was previously prohibited under the country's data protection statute. The new package also makes it easier to deport foreign extremists living in Germany, allows for the addition of biometrics - such as a fingerprint - to passports and identity documents, and allows for the addition of sky marshals on flights. Ashcroft's short trip through Europe started in Britain, then Spain, Germany, and ends in Italy - four countries believed to be key logistics points for men who hijacked the planes used in the attacks that killed thousand s. Later Friday, Ashcroft met in Rome with Justice Minister Roberto Castelli at the U.S. ambassador's residence. He planned to meet on Saturday with Italian Interior Minister Claudio Scajola. Arrests of people accused of having direct links to Sept. 11 have been made in Britain, Germany and Spain, and Italian authorities have several men in custody who are believed to be part of al-Qaida, including Essid Sami Ben Khemais, the suspected head of bin Laden's European logistical operation, according to local prosecutors. Ashcroft is meeting with top law enforcement officials in each country, but would not say if the trip represented a shift of the focal point of the investigation to Europe now that leads in the United States appear to be drying up. While in London on Wednesday, Ashcroft told reporters the United States would deal with European objections to the death penalty on a case-by-case basis as it seeks extradition of suspects linked to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He would not address the issue in Berlin, simply saying that he and Schily had not discussed the case of Mounir El Motassadeq, the only person in custody in Germany on charges related to the attacks. Motassadeq is accused of controlling an account used to bankroll several of the hijackers. European countries have abolished the death penalty and will not extradite suspects who face the death penalty in another country. 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