Dr.h.c.OttoSchily

Dr. h.c. Otto Schily is a German lawyer and politician born on July 20, 1932, in Bochum, Germany. He began his career as a lawyer in 1963 after completing his law studies in Munich and Hamburg and his political science studies in Berlin. Schily was involved in several high-profile cases.

In 1980, Schily co-founded the Green Party of Germany and was elected to the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, in 1983. He served as one of the spokespersons for the Green Party of the parliamentary group.

Schily left the Green Party in 1989 and joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). He was appointed as the Federal Minister of the Interior in 1998 and held the position until 2005. During his tenure, Schily oversaw significant changes in German security policies, including the introduction of the German anti-terrorist legislation after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks and the introduction of biometric passports.

After leaving politics, Schily returned to his law practice and continued to be active in public life. He has been involved in numerous cultural and educational initiatives and has written several books on legal and political issues.

In recognition of his contributions to German politics and society, Schily has received numerous honors and awards, such as the Leo Baeck Medal he received in 2005 for his efforts in promoting social justice and tolerance.