Related Articles - Gunter Grass Appeals to Court in Song Case

Habermas's appeal was released on the homepage of an internet group for people seeking Song's release and the protection of his freedom of thought. The philosopher expressed surprise and an inability to understand what he's observed so far in Song's arrest and trial, and expressed further concern over the hearings underway now. He also said that from what he knew of Song's case, it fell short of the standards employed by law-governed nations.

While calling for an impartial decision, he expressed hope that the chief justice would not allow Song, a German citizen, to become a casualty of Korea’s domestic political squabbling. He also warned that if the court once more applied to Song’s case the National Security Law, which the philosopher claimed is incompatible with the fundamental principles of constitutional governance, and could harm Korea’s reputation in the court of world opinion.

At the end of his petition, Habermas begged the court’s permission to send a copy of his letter to his friend, Joschka Fischer, who as German Foreign Minister has the final say on offering diplomatic assistance to German citizens abroad.

The Internet group that released Habermas’s appeal submitted the letter to the justices handling the third round of public hearings into Song’s case, which began Tuesday in Seoul District Court.