Four men accused of aiding an extremist Syrian rebel organisation on Tuesday appeared in a German court.

The men, three of whom declined to respond to the charges, are accused of facilitating the delivery of military parkas, boots and ambulances to Ahrar al-Sham, the key power in the Jaish al-Fatah rebel alliance alongside al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front.

It has not been determined whether the group is a terrorist organisation, in which case the alleged crime could carry a prison sentence of between six months and ten years- with a repeat offence attracting up to 15 years.

According to the prosecution, the group’s aim is to topple the Assad regime and set up a society based on sharia law principles “without regard for civilian casualties”.

The lawyer of one of the accused, a 49-year-old businessman from the Swabian Jura, claimed his client had been deceived and that the delivery had been intended to reach the Free Syrian Army.