(1) Whosoever by deception, threat or force transports another into a territory outside the Federal Republic of Germany or causes him to go abroad, or prevents him from returning from abroad and thereby exposes him to the danger of being persecuted for political reasons and, in violation of the principles of the rule of law, of suffering harm to life and limb through violence or arbitrary measures, of being deprived of his freedom or of being seriously prejudiced in his professional or financial circumstances shall be liable to imprisonment of not less than one year.

(2) In less serious cases the penalty shall be imprisonment from three months to five years.

(3) Whosoever prepares the commission of such an offence shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine.