diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index cd4776ee..a2eac62b 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -88,16 +88,31 @@ TODO: implementing of options resp. other tasks from PR #1346
     the parsing of log-entries contain new-line chars (as single entry);
   - if multiline regex however expected (by single-line parsing without buffering) - prefix `(?m)` 
     could be used in regex to enable it;
-* implemented execution of `actionstart` on demand (conditional), if action depends on `family` (gh-1742):
+* Implemented execution of `actionstart` on demand (conditional), if action depends on `family` (gh-1742):
   - new action parameter `actionstart_on_demand` (bool) can be set to prevent/allow starting action
     on demand (default retrieved automatically, if some conditional parameter `param?family=...` 
     presents in action properties), see `action.d/pf.conf` for example;
   - additionally `actionstop` will be executed only for families previously executing `actionstart`
     (starting on demand only)
-* introduced new command `actionflush`: executed in order to flush all bans at once 
+* Introduced new command `actionflush`: executed in order to flush all bans at once 
   e. g. by unban all, reload with removing action, stop, shutdown the system (gh-1743),
   the actions having `actionflush` do not execute `actionunban` for each single ticket
-* add new command `actionflush` default for several iptables/iptables-ipset actions (and common include);
+* Add new command `actionflush` default for several iptables/iptables-ipset actions (and common include);
+* Add new jail option `logtimezone` to force the timezone on log lines that don't have an explicit one (gh-1773)
+* Implemented zone abbreviations (like CET, CEST, etc.) and abbr+-offset functionality (accept zones
+  like 'CET+0100'), for the list of abbreviations see strptime.TZ_STR;
+* Tokens `%z` and `%Z` are changed (more precise now);
+* Introduced new tokens `%Exz` and `%ExZ` that fully support zone abbreviations and/or offset-based
+  zones (implemented as enhancement using custom `datepattern`, because may be too dangerous for default
+  patterns and tokens like `%z`);
+  Note: the extended tokens supported zone abbreviations, but it can parse 1 or 3-5 char(s) in lowercase.
+        Don't use them in default date-patterns (if not anchored, few precise resp. optional).
+        Because python currently does not support mixing of case-sensitive with case-insensitive matching,
+	the TZ (in uppercase) cannot be combined with `%a`/`%b` etc (that are currently case-insensitive),
+	to avoid invalid date-time recognition in strings like '11-Aug-2013 03:36:11.372 error ...' with
+	wrong TZ "error".
+        Hence `%z` currently match literal Z|UTC|GMT only (and offset-based), and `%Exz` - all zone 
+	abbreviations.
 
 
 ver. 0.10.0-alpha-1 (2016/07/14) - ipv6-support-etc
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py b/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
index ca092990..ce0ed3b6 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ class JailReader(ConfigReader):
 				["string", "filter", ""]]
 		opts = [["bool", "enabled", False],
 				["string", "logpath", None],
+				["string", "logtimezone", None],
 				["string", "logencoding", None],
 				["string", "backend", "auto"],
 				["int",    "maxretry", None],
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py b/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
index dd5d198f..90cfe1fd 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import time
 from threading import Lock
 
 from .datetemplate import re, DateTemplate, DatePatternRegex, DateTai64n, DateEpoch
+from .strptime import validateTimeZone
 from .utils import Utils
 from ..helpers import getLogger
 
@@ -222,6 +223,8 @@ class DateDetector(object):
 		self.__firstUnused = 0
 		# pre-match pattern:
 		self.__preMatch = None
+		# default TZ (if set, treat log lines without explicit time zone to be in this time zone):
+		self.__default_tz = None
 
 	def _appendTemplate(self, template, ignoreDup=False):
 		name = template.name
@@ -423,6 +426,14 @@ class DateDetector(object):
 		logSys.log(logLevel, " no template.")
 		return (None, None)
 
+	@property
+	def default_tz(self):
+		return self.__default_tz
+
+	@default_tz.setter
+	def default_tz(self, value):
+		self.__default_tz = validateTimeZone(value)
+
 	def getTime(self, line, timeMatch=None):
 		"""Attempts to return the date on a log line using templates.
 
@@ -449,7 +460,7 @@ class DateDetector(object):
 		template = timeMatch[1]
 		if template is not None:
 			try:
-				date = template.getDate(line, timeMatch[0])
+				date = template.getDate(line, timeMatch[0], default_tz=self.__default_tz)
 				if date is not None:
 					if logSys.getEffectiveLevel() <= logLevel: # pragma: no cover - heavy debug
 						logSys.log(logLevel, "  got time %f for %r using template %s",
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py b/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py
index 1d0b014b..44ea54a8 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ class DateTemplate(object):
 		return dateMatch
 
 	@abstractmethod
-	def getDate(self, line, dateMatch=None):
+	def getDate(self, line, dateMatch=None, default_tz=None):
 		"""Abstract method, which should return the date for a log line
 
 		This should return the date for a log line, typically taking the
@@ -169,6 +169,8 @@ class DateTemplate(object):
 		----------
 		line : str
 			Log line, of which the date should be extracted from.
+		default_tz: if no explicit time zone is present in the line
+                            passing this will interpret it as in that time zone.
 
 		Raises
 		------
@@ -200,13 +202,14 @@ class DateEpoch(DateTemplate):
 			regex = r"((?P<square>(?<=^\[))?\d{10,11}\b(?:\.\d{3,6})?)(?(square)(?=\]))"
 			self.setRegex(regex, wordBegin='start', wordEnd=True)
 
-	def getDate(self, line, dateMatch=None):
+	def getDate(self, line, dateMatch=None, default_tz=None):
 		"""Method to return the date for a log line.
 
 		Parameters
 		----------
 		line : str
 			Log line, of which the date should be extracted from.
+		default_tz: ignored, Unix timestamps are time zone independent
 
 		Returns
 		-------
@@ -277,7 +280,7 @@ class DatePatternRegex(DateTemplate):
 			regex = r'(?iu)' + regex
 		super(DatePatternRegex, self).setRegex(regex, wordBegin, wordEnd)
 
-	def getDate(self, line, dateMatch=None):
+	def getDate(self, line, dateMatch=None, default_tz=None):
 		"""Method to return the date for a log line.
 
 		This uses a custom version of strptime, using the named groups
@@ -287,6 +290,7 @@ class DatePatternRegex(DateTemplate):
 		----------
 		line : str
 			Log line, of which the date should be extracted from.
+		default_tz: optionally used to correct timezone
 
 		Returns
 		-------
@@ -297,7 +301,8 @@ class DatePatternRegex(DateTemplate):
 		if not dateMatch:
 			dateMatch = self.matchDate(line)
 		if dateMatch:
-			return reGroupDictStrptime(dateMatch.groupdict()), dateMatch
+			return (reGroupDictStrptime(dateMatch.groupdict(), default_tz=default_tz),
+				dateMatch)
 
 
 class DateTai64n(DateTemplate):
@@ -315,13 +320,14 @@ class DateTai64n(DateTemplate):
 		# We already know the format for TAI64N
 		self.setRegex("@[0-9a-f]{24}", wordBegin=wordBegin)
 
-	def getDate(self, line, dateMatch=None):
+	def getDate(self, line, dateMatch=None, default_tz=None):
 		"""Method to return the date for a log line.
 
 		Parameters
 		----------
 		line : str
 			Log line, of which the date should be extracted from.
+		default_tz: ignored, since TAI is time zone independent
 
 		Returns
 		-------
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/filter.py b/fail2ban/server/filter.py
index fce02a7a..a8f99998 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/filter.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/filter.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ from .failmanager import FailManagerEmpty, FailManager
 from .ipdns import DNSUtils, IPAddr
 from .ticket import FailTicket
 from .jailthread import JailThread
-from .datedetector import DateDetector
+from .datedetector import DateDetector, validateTimeZone
 from .mytime import MyTime
 from .failregex import FailRegex, Regex, RegexException
 from .action import CommandAction
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ class Filter(JailThread):
 		## Store last time stamp, applicable for multi-line
 		self.__lastTimeText = ""
 		self.__lastDate = None
+		## if set, treat log lines without explicit time zone to be in this time zone
+		self.__logtimezone = None
 		## External command
 		self.__ignoreCommand = False
 		## Default or preferred encoding (to decode bytes from file or journal):
@@ -282,6 +284,7 @@ class Filter(JailThread):
 			return
 		else:
 			dd = DateDetector()
+			dd.default_tz = self.__logtimezone
 			if not isinstance(pattern, (list, tuple)):
 				pattern = filter(bool, map(str.strip, re.split('\n+', pattern)))
 			for pattern in pattern:
@@ -307,6 +310,24 @@ class Filter(JailThread):
 				return pattern, templates[0].name
 		return None
 
+	##
+	# Set the log default time zone
+	#
+	# @param tz the symbolic timezone (for now fixed offset only: UTC[+-]HHMM)
+
+	def setLogTimeZone(self, tz):
+		validateTimeZone(tz); # avoid setting of wrong value, but hold original
+		self.__logtimezone = tz
+		if self.dateDetector: self.dateDetector.default_tz = self.__logtimezone
+
+	##
+	# Get the log default timezone
+	#
+	# @return symbolic timezone (a string)
+
+	def getLogTimeZone(self):
+		return self.__logtimezone
+
 	##
 	# Set the maximum retry value.
 	#
@@ -972,7 +993,9 @@ class FileFilter(Filter):
 					break
 				(timeMatch, template) = self.dateDetector.matchTime(line)
 				if timeMatch:
-					dateTimeMatch = self.dateDetector.getTime(line[timeMatch.start():timeMatch.end()], (timeMatch, template))
+					dateTimeMatch = self.dateDetector.getTime(
+						line[timeMatch.start():timeMatch.end()],
+						(timeMatch, template))
 				else:
 					nextp = container.tell()
 					if nextp > maxp:
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/server.py b/fail2ban/server/server.py
index 56367ed7..e3b22c44 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/server.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/server.py
@@ -379,6 +379,12 @@ class Server:
 	def getDatePattern(self, name):
 		return self.__jails[name].filter.getDatePattern()
 
+	def setLogTimeZone(self, name, tz):
+		self.__jails[name].filter.setLogTimeZone(tz)
+
+	def getLogTimeZone(self, name):
+		return self.__jails[name].filter.getLogTimeZone()
+
 	def setIgnoreCommand(self, name, value):
 		self.__jails[name].filter.setIgnoreCommand(value)
 
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/strptime.py b/fail2ban/server/strptime.py
index 55bdcc8c..dbf75d21 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/strptime.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/strptime.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 # along with Fail2Ban; if not, write to the Free Software
 # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, USA.
 
+import re
 import time
 import calendar
 import datetime
@@ -25,7 +26,9 @@ from _strptime import LocaleTime, TimeRE, _calc_julian_from_U_or_W
 from .mytime import MyTime
 
 locale_time = LocaleTime()
-timeRE = TimeRE()
+
+TZ_ABBR_RE = r"[A-Z](?:[A-Z]{2,4})?"
+FIXED_OFFSET_TZ_RE = re.compile(r"(%s)?([+-][01]\d(?::?\d{2})?)?$" % (TZ_ABBR_RE,))
 
 def _getYearCentRE(cent=(0,3), distance=3, now=(MyTime.now(), MyTime.alternateNow)):
 	""" Build century regex for last year and the next years (distance).
@@ -38,10 +41,20 @@ def _getYearCentRE(cent=(0,3), distance=3, now=(MyTime.now(), MyTime.alternateNo
 		exprset |= set( cent(now[1].year + i) for i in (-1, distance) )
 	return "(?:%s)" % "|".join(exprset) if len(exprset) > 1 else "".join(exprset)
 
-#todo: implement literal time zone support like CET, PST, PDT, etc (via pytz):
-#timeRE['z'] = r"%s?(?P<z>Z|[+-]\d{2}(?::?[0-5]\d)?|[A-Z]{3})?" % timeRE['Z']
-timeRE['Z'] = r"(?P<Z>[A-Z]{3,5})"
-timeRE['z'] = r"(?P<z>Z|UTC|GMT|[+-]\d{2}(?::?[0-5]\d)?)"
+timeRE = TimeRE()
+
+# TODO: because python currently does not support mixing of case-sensitive with case-insensitive matching,
+#       check how TZ (in uppercase) can be combined with %a/%b etc. (that are currently case-insensitive), 
+#       to avoid invalid date-time recognition in strings like '11-Aug-2013 03:36:11.372 error ...' 
+#       with wrong TZ "error", which is at least not backwards compatible.
+#       Hence %z currently match literal Z|UTC|GMT only (and offset-based), and %Exz - all zone abbreviations.
+timeRE['Z'] = r"(?P<Z>Z|[A-Z]{3,5})"
+timeRE['z'] = r"(?P<z>Z|UTC|GMT|[+-][01]\d(?::?\d{2})?)"
+
+# Note: this extended tokens supported zone abbreviations, but it can parse 1 or 3-5 char(s) in lowercase,
+#       see todo above. Don't use them in default date-patterns (if not anchored, few precise resp. optional).
+timeRE['ExZ'] = r"(?P<Z>%s)" % (TZ_ABBR_RE,)
+timeRE['Exz'] = r"(?P<z>(?:%s)?[+-][01]\d(?::?\d{2})?|%s)" % (TZ_ABBR_RE, TZ_ABBR_RE)
 
 # Extend build-in TimeRE with some exact patterns
 # exact two-digit patterns:
@@ -78,7 +91,56 @@ def getTimePatternRE():
 		names[key] = "%%%s" % key
 	return (patt, names)
 
-def reGroupDictStrptime(found_dict, msec=False):
+
+def validateTimeZone(tz):
+	"""Validate a timezone and convert it to offset if it can (offset-based TZ).
+
+	For now this accepts the UTC[+-]hhmm format (UTC has aliases GMT/Z and optional).
+	Additionally it accepts all zone abbreviations mentioned below in TZ_STR.
+	Note that currently this zone abbreviations are offset-based and used fixed
+	offset without automatically DST-switch (if CET used then no automatically CEST-switch).
+	
+	In the future, it may be extended for named time zones (such as Europe/Paris)
+	present on the system, if a suitable tz library is present (pytz).
+	"""
+	if tz is None:
+		return None
+	m = FIXED_OFFSET_TZ_RE.match(tz)
+	if m is None:
+		raise ValueError("Unknown or unsupported time zone: %r" % tz)
+	tz = m.groups()
+	return zone2offset(tz, 0)
+
+def zone2offset(tz, dt):
+	"""Return the proper offset, in minutes according to given timezone at a given time.
+
+	Parameters
+	----------
+	tz: symbolic timezone or offset (for now only TZA?([+-]hh:?mm?)? is supported,
+		as value are accepted:
+		  int offset;
+		  string in form like 'CET+0100' or 'UTC' or '-0400';
+		  tuple (or list) in form (zone name, zone offset);
+	dt: datetime instance for offset computation (currently unused)
+	"""
+	if isinstance(tz, int):
+		return tz
+	if isinstance(tz, basestring):
+		return validateTimeZone(tz)
+	tz, tzo = tz
+	if tzo is None or tzo == '': # without offset
+		return TZ_ABBR_OFFS[tz]
+	if len(tzo) <= 3: # short tzo (hh only)
+		# [+-]hh --> [+-]hh*60
+		return TZ_ABBR_OFFS[tz] + int(tzo)*60
+	if tzo[3] != ':':
+		# [+-]hhmm --> [+-]1 * (hh*60 + mm)
+		return TZ_ABBR_OFFS[tz] + (-1 if tzo[0] == '-' else 1) * (int(tzo[1:3])*60 + int(tzo[3:5]))
+	else:
+		# [+-]hh:mm --> [+-]1 * (hh*60 + mm)
+		return TZ_ABBR_OFFS[tz] + (-1 if tzo[0] == '-' else 1) * (int(tzo[1:3])*60 + int(tzo[4:6]))
+
+def reGroupDictStrptime(found_dict, msec=False, default_tz=None):
 	"""Return time from dictionary of strptime fields
 
 	This is tweaked from python built-in _strptime.
@@ -88,7 +150,8 @@ def reGroupDictStrptime(found_dict, msec=False):
 	found_dict : dict
 		Dictionary where keys represent the strptime fields, and values the
 		respective value.
-
+	default_tz : default timezone to apply if nothing relevant is in found_dict
+                     (may be a non-fixed one in the future)
 	Returns
 	-------
 	float
@@ -167,11 +230,7 @@ def reGroupDictStrptime(found_dict, msec=False):
 			if z in ("Z", "UTC", "GMT"):
 				tzoffset = 0
 			else:
-				tzoffset = int(z[1:3]) * 60 # Hours...
-				if len(z)>3:
-					tzoffset += int(z[-2:]) # ...and minutes
-				if z.startswith("-"):
-					tzoffset = -tzoffset
+				tzoffset = zone2offset(z, 0); # currently offset-based only
 		elif key == 'Z':
 			z = val
 			if z in ("UTC", "GMT"):
@@ -209,6 +268,9 @@ def reGroupDictStrptime(found_dict, msec=False):
 	# Actully create date
 	date_result =  datetime.datetime(
 		year, month, day, hour, minute, second, fraction)
+	# Correct timezone if not supplied in the log linge
+	if tzoffset is None and default_tz is not None:
+		tzoffset = zone2offset(default_tz, date_result)
 	# Add timezone info
 	if tzoffset is not None:
 		date_result -= datetime.timedelta(seconds=tzoffset * 60)
@@ -234,3 +296,56 @@ def reGroupDictStrptime(found_dict, msec=False):
 	if msec: # pragma: no cover - currently unused
 		tm += fraction/1000000.0
 	return tm
+
+
+TZ_ABBR_OFFS = {'':0, None:0}
+TZ_STR = '''
+	-12 Y
+	-11 X NUT SST
+	-10 W CKT HAST HST TAHT TKT
+	-9 V AKST GAMT GIT HADT HNY
+	-8 U AKDT CIST HAY HNP PST PT
+	-7 T HAP HNR MST PDT
+	-6 S CST EAST GALT HAR HNC MDT
+	-5 R CDT COT EASST ECT EST ET HAC HNE PET
+	-4 Q AST BOT CLT COST EDT FKT GYT HAE HNA PYT
+	-3 P ADT ART BRT CLST FKST GFT HAA PMST PYST SRT UYT WGT
+	-2 O BRST FNT PMDT UYST WGST
+	-1 N AZOT CVT EGT
+	0 Z EGST GMT UTC WET WT
+	1 A CET DFT WAT WEDT WEST
+	2 B CAT CEDT CEST EET SAST WAST
+	3 C EAT EEDT EEST IDT MSK
+	4 D AMT AZT GET GST KUYT MSD MUT RET SAMT SCT
+	5 E AMST AQTT AZST HMT MAWT MVT PKT TFT TJT TMT UZT YEKT
+	6 F ALMT BIOT BTT IOT KGT NOVT OMST YEKST
+	7 G CXT DAVT HOVT ICT KRAT NOVST OMSST THA WIB
+	8 H ACT AWST BDT BNT CAST HKT IRKT KRAST MYT PHT SGT ULAT WITA WST
+	9 I AWDT IRKST JST KST PWT TLT WDT WIT YAKT
+	10 K AEST ChST PGT VLAT YAKST YAPT
+	11 L AEDT LHDT MAGT NCT PONT SBT VLAST VUT
+	12 M ANAST ANAT FJT GILT MAGST MHT NZST PETST PETT TVT WFT
+	13 FJST NZDT
+	11.5 NFT
+	10.5 ACDT LHST
+	9.5 ACST
+	6.5 CCT MMT
+	5.75 NPT
+	5.5 SLT
+	4.5 AFT IRDT
+	3.5 IRST
+	-2.5 HAT NDT
+	-3.5 HNT NST NT
+	-4.5 HLV VET
+	-9.5 MART MIT
+'''
+
+def _init_TZ_ABBR():
+	"""Initialized TZ_ABBR_OFFS dictionary (TZ -> offset in minutes)"""
+	for tzline in map(str.split, TZ_STR.split('\n')):
+		if not len(tzline): continue
+		tzoffset = int(float(tzline[0]) * 60)
+		for tz in tzline[1:]:
+			TZ_ABBR_OFFS[tz] = tzoffset 
+
+_init_TZ_ABBR()
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py b/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py
index bc9edd43..ecc2a138 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py
@@ -261,6 +261,10 @@ class Transmitter:
 			value = command[2]
 			self.__server.setDatePattern(name, value)
 			return self.__server.getDatePattern(name)
+		elif command[1] == "logtimezone":
+			value = command[2]
+			self.__server.setLogTimeZone(name, value)
+			return self.__server.getLogTimeZone(name)
 		elif command[1] == "maxretry":
 			value = command[2]
 			self.__server.setMaxRetry(name, int(value))
@@ -363,6 +367,8 @@ class Transmitter:
 			return self.__server.getFindTime(name)
 		elif command[1] == "datepattern":
 			return self.__server.getDatePattern(name)
+		elif command[1] == "logtimezone":
+			return self.__server.getLogTimeZone(name)
 		elif command[1] == "maxretry":
 			return self.__server.getMaxRetry(name)
 		elif command[1] == "maxlines":
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
index bfa68e03..6cc2f659 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
@@ -196,6 +196,14 @@ class JailReaderTest(LogCaptureTestCase):
 		self.assertTrue(jail.isEnabled())
 		self.assertLogged("Invalid action definition 'joho[foo'")
 
+	def testJailLogTimeZone(self):
+		jail = JailReader('tz_correct', basedir=IMPERFECT_CONFIG,
+			share_config=IMPERFECT_CONFIG_SHARE_CFG)
+		self.assertTrue(jail.read())
+		self.assertTrue(jail.getOptions())
+		self.assertTrue(jail.isEnabled())
+		self.assertEqual(jail.options['logtimezone'], 'UTC+0200')
+
 	def testJailFilterBrokenDef(self):
 		jail = JailReader('brokenfilterdef', basedir=IMPERFECT_CONFIG,
 			share_config=IMPERFECT_CONFIG_SHARE_CFG)
@@ -533,10 +541,14 @@ class JailsReaderTest(LogCaptureTestCase):
 			 ]],
 			 ['add', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf', 'auto'],
 			 ['set', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf', 'addfailregex', '<IP>'],
+			 ['set', 'tz_correct', 'addfailregex', '<IP>'],
+			 ['set', 'tz_correct', 'logtimezone', 'UTC+0200'],
 			 ['start', 'emptyaction'],
 			 ['start', 'missinglogfiles'],
 			 ['start', 'brokenaction'],
 			 ['start', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf'],
+		         ['add', 'tz_correct', 'auto'],
+			 ['start', 'tz_correct'],
 			 ['config-error',
 				"Jail 'brokenactiondef' skipped, because of wrong configuration: Invalid action definition 'joho[foo'"],
 			 ['config-error',
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/config/jail.conf b/fail2ban/tests/config/jail.conf
index 64c1b830..3dcbf634 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/config/jail.conf
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/config/jail.conf
@@ -47,3 +47,7 @@ action = thefunkychickendance
 [parse_to_end_of_jail.conf]
 enabled = true
 action =
+
+[tz_correct]
+enabled = true
+logtimezone = UTC+0200
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
index 39ab7173..02facf30 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
@@ -89,6 +89,55 @@ class DateDetectorTest(LogCaptureTestCase):
 		self.assertEqual(datelog, dateUnix)
 		self.assertEqual(matchlog.group(1), 'Jan 23 21:59:59')
 
+	def testDefaultTimeZone(self):
+		# use special date-pattern (with %Exz), because %z currently does not supported 
+		# zone abbreviations except Z|UTC|GMT.
+		dd = DateDetector()
+		dd.appendTemplate('^%ExY-%Exm-%Exd %H:%M:%S(?: ?%Exz)?')
+		dt = datetime.datetime
+		logdt = "2017-01-23 15:00:00"
+		dtUTC = dt(2017, 1, 23, 15, 0)
+		for tz, log, desired in (
+			# no TZ in input-string:
+			('UTC+0300', logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 12, 0)), # so in UTC, it was noon
+			('UTC',      logdt, dtUTC), # UTC
+			('UTC-0430', logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 19, 30)),
+			('GMT+12',   logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 3, 0)),
+			(None,       logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 14, 0)), # default CET in our test-framework
+			# CET:
+			('CET',      logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 14, 0)),
+			('+0100',    logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 14, 0)),
+			('CEST-01',  logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 14, 0)),
+			# CEST:
+			('CEST',     logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 13, 0)),
+			('+0200',    logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 13, 0)),
+			('CET+01',   logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 13, 0)),
+			('CET+0100', logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 13, 0)),
+			# check offset in minutes:
+			('CET+0130', logdt, dt(2017, 1, 23, 12, 30)),
+			# TZ in input-string have precedence:
+			('UTC+0300', logdt+' GMT', dtUTC), # GMT wins
+			('UTC',      logdt+' GMT', dtUTC), # GMT wins
+			('UTC-0430', logdt+' GMT', dtUTC), # GMT wins
+			(None,       logdt+' GMT', dtUTC), # GMT wins
+			('UTC',      logdt+' -1045', dt(2017, 1, 24, 1, 45)), # -1045 wins
+			(None,       logdt+' -10:45', dt(2017, 1, 24, 1, 45)), # -1045 wins
+			('UTC',      logdt+' +0945', dt(2017, 1, 23, 5, 15)), # +0945 wins
+			(None,       logdt+' +09:45', dt(2017, 1, 23, 5, 15)), # +0945 wins
+			('UTC+0300', logdt+' Z', dtUTC), # Z wins (UTC)
+			('GMT+12',   logdt+' CET',  dt(2017, 1, 23, 14, 0)), # CET wins
+			('GMT+12',   logdt+' CEST', dt(2017, 1, 23, 13, 0)), # CEST wins
+			('GMT+12',   logdt+' CET+0130', dt(2017, 1, 23, 12, 30)), # CET+0130 wins
+		):
+			logSys.debug('== test %r with TZ %r', log, tz)
+			dd.default_tz=tz; datelog, _ = dd.getTime(log)
+			val = dt.utcfromtimestamp(datelog)
+			self.assertEqual(val, desired,
+					 "wrong offset %r != %r by %r with default TZ %r (%r)" % (val, desired, log, tz, dd.default_tz))
+
+		self.assertRaises(ValueError, setattr, dd, 'default_tz', 'WRONG-TZ')
+		dd.default_tz = None
+
 	def testVariousTimes(self):
 		"""Test detection of various common date/time formats f2b should understand
 		"""
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
index 745dcca7..cb0edb06 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
@@ -289,6 +289,16 @@ class BasicFilter(unittest.TestCase):
 			("^%Y-%m-%d-%H%M%S.%f %z **",
 			"^Year-Month-Day-24hourMinuteSecond.Microseconds Zone offset **"))
 
+	def testGetSetLogTimeZone(self):
+		self.assertEqual(self.filter.getLogTimeZone(), None)
+		self.filter.setLogTimeZone('UTC')
+		self.assertEqual(self.filter.getLogTimeZone(), 'UTC')
+		self.filter.setLogTimeZone('UTC-0400')
+		self.assertEqual(self.filter.getLogTimeZone(), 'UTC-0400')
+		self.filter.setLogTimeZone('UTC+0200')
+		self.assertEqual(self.filter.getLogTimeZone(), 'UTC+0200')
+		self.assertRaises(ValueError, self.filter.setLogTimeZone, 'not-a-time-zone')
+
 	def testAssertWrongTime(self):
 		self.assertRaises(AssertionError, 
 			lambda: _assert_equal_entries(self, 
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py
index 32f794a6..68b9951c 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py
@@ -311,6 +311,10 @@ class Transmitter(TransmitterBase):
 			"datepattern", "TAI64N", (None, "TAI64N"), jail=self.jailName)
 		self.setGetTestNOK("datepattern", "%Cat%a%%%g", jail=self.jailName)
 
+	def testLogTimeZone(self):
+		self.setGetTest("logtimezone", "UTC+0400", "UTC+0400", jail=self.jailName)
+		self.setGetTestNOK("logtimezone", "not-a-time-zone", jail=self.jailName)
+
 	def testJailUseDNS(self):
 		self.setGetTest("usedns", "yes", jail=self.jailName)
 		self.setGetTest("usedns", "warn", jail=self.jailName)
diff --git a/man/jail.conf.5 b/man/jail.conf.5
index 5a75369c..a43346e1 100644
--- a/man/jail.conf.5
+++ b/man/jail.conf.5
@@ -177,6 +177,25 @@ Ensure syslog or the program that generates the log file isn't configured to com
 .TP
 .B logencoding
 encoding of log files used for decoding. Default value of "auto" uses current system locale.
+.TP
+.B logtimezone
+Force the time zone for log lines that don't have one.
+
+If this option is not specified, log lines from which no explicit time zone has been found are interpreted by fail2ban in its own system time zone, and that may turn to be inappropriate. While the best practice is to configure the monitored applications to include explicit offsets, this option is meant to handle cases where that is not possible.
+
+The supported time zones in this option are those with fixed offset: Z, UTC[+-]hhmm (you can also use GMT as an alias to UTC).
+
+This option has no effect on log lines on which an explicit time zone has been found.
+Examples:
+
+.RS
+.nf
+        logtimezone = UTC
+        logtimezone = UTC+0200
+        logtimezone = GMT-0100
+.fi
+.RE
+
 .TP
 .B banaction
 banning action (default iptables-multiport) typically specified in the \fI[DEFAULT]\fR section for all jails.