The German state of Bavaria launched a program to teach refugees the basics of German law, utilizing a large chunk of the German judiciary system and translators.These classes are also completely voluntary, and the lectures will cover sensitive topics such as gender equality and religion.

According to ABC News, the legal primer program was initiated by the justice ministry of Bavaria and will utilize 800 judges, prosecutors and judicial officials as teachers of the refugees. With the help of translators, the refuges are receive lectures on such topics include freedom of opinion, the separation of church and state and equality between men and women. 

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At the end of classes, the refugees are also given links to educational short films by the justice ministry which they can watch on their smartphones. In one such film utilizes cartoons to explain how German law affects daily life. Gender equality is emphasized. The film ends with an appeal to all new arrivals to integrate into German society and adhere to Germany’s norms and traditions.

Integration course had always been offered to migrants in Germany. What is new with Bavaria’s approach is to bring in judicial professionals as teachers. Fox News quotes Bavaria’s Justice Minister, Winfried Bausback, as saying that it is important to give refugees an “understanding of (Germany’s) basic values since many of them come from places ruled by dictatorships and/or where the justice system is dysfunctional.

The program comes at a time when the government of German Chancellor Angela Merkel is under pressure over its open-door policy with respect to refugees and asylum-seekers especially in the wake numerous assaults of women in Cologne in western Germany during the New Year ‘s Day celebrations. The Seattle Times reports that Cologne police says that it received 553 criminal complaints, 45 percent of which involves sexual offences by what many described were men of Arab or North African origin.

The government has announced that that it will implement reforms of laws on deportation that will make it significantly easier to expel immigrants who commit crimes.