German Parliament Approves Military Service Review, Sparking Student Protests

Germany's parliament passed a law on Wednesday to reinstate mandatory military service reviews for young men. The move triggered protests by thousands of students in cities across the country. The new legislation requires all 18-year-old male citizens to complete a detailed questionnaire. They must also undergo a mandatory health screening, known as a "musterung." The government says the measure is a necessary step to understand the nation's available manpower. Officials emphasize it is a registration and assessment drive, not an immediate call to active duty. Protestors argue the law is a move toward compulsory service, which Germany suspended in 2011. Student groups organized walkouts and rallies, calling the policy a step backward that threatens personal freedom. The government maintains the database will only be used in a severe national emergency. Further parliamentary debate on the potential future structure of military service is expected.