Immigration

Germans increasingly hostile towards asylum-seekers More than half of Germans view asylum-seekers in a negative light, a new study shows. Prejudice against the newcomers has grown even as fewer migrants come to Germany.

(Deutsche Welle) Right-wing populist attitudes have become “normal” in Germany’s mainstream, said authors of a new study presented by the left-wing Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Berlin on Thursday. “The center is losing its footing and its democratic orientation,” researchers said. The foundation […]

News: Europe

How a German mining town became a recruiting ground for IS The western town of Dinslaken became known as a Salafi hotbed in 2013 when a group of local youths traveled to Syria to join the 'Islamic State.' Years on, the community is still trying to leave the past behind.

(Deutsche Welle) A deep-seated mistrust is noticeable, even from inside the car, as we drive slowly through the streets of Dinslaken-Lohberg. Due to bad weather, only a few people are outside, following us with their glances. “That’s normal in Lohberg,” social worker […]

Government & Politics

Germany confirms Islamic Relief ties to Muslim Brotherhood Federal government aid payments to British-based charity under official scrutiny

(National-UAE) German officials have accused Islamic Relief Worldwide of “significant” connections to the underground Muslim Brotherhood, triggering concerns among politicians over the diversion of official funds to Islamists. A submission to the Bundesrat revealed that the powerful Federal Court of Audit was […]

News: Europe

Widow of prominent IS terrorist reportedly living quiet life in Germany German citizen Omaima A. went to Syria, joined the Islamic State group and married late terrorist Denis Cuspert. Now that same woman seemingly lives a quiet life in Germany, as a Lebanese reporter has uncovered.

(Deutsche Welle) When Jenan Moussa, an acclaimed war reporter for the Arab TV channel Al Aan, received the contents of a smart phone from a “trusted source,” she immediately knew she had been handed a treasure trove. The phone, she says, belonged […]

Children & Teens

IS can still launch attacks in Germany: intelligence chief The head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency has warned against underestimating the threat posed by 'Islamic State' despite the militant group's apparent defeat in Syria and northern Iraq.

(Deutsche Welle) In an interview with German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, Thomas Haldenwang, the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) — Germany’s domestic intelligence agency — warned against an increasing threat posed by the return of “Islamic […]

Clerics & Preachers

Jewish rabbis and Muslim imams to join Bundeswehr chaplains German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen wants the Bundeswehr's military chaplaincy to include rabbis and imams. She would like to have it done by the end of 2019. But there are still several potential issues.

(Deutsche Welle) Since he became the first rabbi to complete an internship with the German military chaplaincy in 2004, Konstantin Pal has fought to make the Bundeswehr more open to different religions. Back then he accompanied a Catholic priest who was assigned to […]

Law Enforcement

Police raids across Germany target alleged Hamas-linked charities German police have raided charities alleged to provide support to the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip. The enclave on the east Mediterranean Sea suffers from one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

(Deutsche Welle) Police carried out raids across Germany on Wednesday targeting charities suspected of providing “financial and propaganda” support to the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, the interior ministry said. Around 90 properties in ten states were searched, with the focus of the raids targeting […]

Children & Teens

Germany brings home ‘Islamic State’ children from Iraq Germany has started repatriating the children of jailed 'Islamic State' fighters from conflict zones [in] the Middle East. European countries are grappling with how to handle returning foreign fighters and their families.

(Deutsche Welle) The German Foreign Ministry said Friday it had brought several children of convicted “Islamic State” (IS) militants back to Germany from Iraq. The returns were carried out with the consent of the parents, a ministry source said, adding that the number of […]

Academics & Education

Germany to push for imams to be trained locally, not abroad In an effort to curb foreign influence and foster integration, the German government is pressing for imams to be educated locally, in Germany. Are German Muslim communities willing to back the idea? DW investigates.

(Deutsche Welle) Forty-three-year-old imam Murat Gül is president of the Islamic Federation of Berlin and teaches Islam at the local Rosa Parks primary school. “Ever since I was a young boy, I had a love for the Koran,” said Gül, who was […]

Citizenship

Germany approves stripping dual national terrorist fighters of citizenship Germany's cabinet has approved a change to the law allowing dual nationals to lose their citizenship if they fight for a foreign terrorist militia. The new law will not be applied retroactively.

(Deutsche Welle) Germans with dual nationality who join foreign terrorist militias will lose their citizenship in the future, the cabinet decided on Wednesday. “Someone who goes abroad and actually participates in combat operations for a terrorist militia shows that they have turned […]

Burkini

Muslim fashion for women exhibition stirs controversy in Germany First shown in San Francisco, an exhibition taking a look at Islamic fashion has provoked strong reactions ahead of its opening in Frankfurt. 'Contemporary Muslim Fashions' confronts stereotypes on both Islam and style.

(Deutsche Welle) Muslim head coverings have always been a controversial topic, as they embody so many issues, whether women’s rights worldwide or Western prejudice and discrimination against Muslims. Now that the first exhibition dedicated to fashion consciousness of women in Islam is […]

Academics & Education

Germany: Muslim kindergarten loses appeal against closure State officials had ordered 'Al Nur' to close following revelations that inappropriate literature had been shared at the kindergarten. The day care center is the only Muslim kindergarten in Rhineland-Palatinate.

(Deutsche Welle) The only Muslim kindergarten in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate lost its appeal to stay open after an administrative court confirmed state officials’ concerns about the school’s ties to an Islamist ideology. The state’s decision to revoke Al Nur kindergarten’s license was […]

Government & Politics

Germany to cut refugee cash in new budget Finance Minister Olaf Scholz was pummelled with criticism from all sides as he presented Germany's budget plans. Local governments are particularly upset over plans to cut the money for processing asylum-seekers.

(Deutsche Welle) Finance Minister Olaf Scholz has faced massive criticism from Germany’s local authorities after his federal budget plans show he wants to slash their means for integrating refugees and asylum-seekers. But at a press conference on Wednesday after a meeting of […]

Academics & Education

Germany: Bavarian court upholds headscarf ban for judges, prosecutors Bavaria's constitutional court has confirmed the legitimacy of the southern German state's ban on judges and prosecutors wearing headscarves. It said the presence of crosses in courtrooms was another matter altogether.

(Deutsche Welle) The Bavarian constitutional court on Monday rejected an appeal by an Islamic religious community to overturn a ban on judges and prosecutors wearing headscarves, saying that justice officials in particular were obliged to be neutral in questions of religion and ideology. The […]

Crime

Chemnitz murder trial begins amid questions of impartiality Daniel H.'s stabbing death led to weeks of unrest and the sacking of Germany's domestic intel chief. Now, the murder trial has begun despite major evidence 'gaps' and concern about lay judges' conflicts of interest.

(Deutsche Welle) The trial of Alaa S. began in Dresden on Monday morning in the middle of a media scrum and fears of far-right protests, following the killing last year of Daniel H. in Chemnitz — an incident that led to a week […]

Government & Politics

Berlin passes first-ever state plan to combat anti-Semitism The German capital has put together a comprehensive approach to fight anti-Semitic hatred. So why is this initiative happening at a local and not a federal level? The reasons, DW found out, are complex.

(Deutsche Welle) There have been many reports about anti-Semitism in Berlin over the past year or so, ranging from the story of a Jewish youth bullied out of his high school to accounts of an Israeli symbol being burned at a Palestinian […]

Government & Politics

A Muslim as German chancellor? CDU leader slammed for saying ‘why not’ The party of Chancellor Angela Merkel has been roiled by a debate about whether a Muslim could lead the CDU and one day become chancellor. One lawmaker couldn't believe anyone would even suggest such a thing.

(Deutsche Welle) The parliamentary group leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has sparked a divisive debate after he said a Muslim could be a future CDU leader and chancellor of Germany. Asked by media outlet Idea if a Muslim could lead […]

Citizenship

Germany to strip ‘Islamic State’ fighters’ citizenship — report Germany's Interior Ministry and Justice Ministry have reportedly agreed on a proposal to expatriate IS fighters. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had tried to link the legislation with broader citizenship reform.

(Deutsche Welle) Germany’s governing coalition has agreed to strip fighters of the “Islamic State” (IS) militant group of their citizenship, according to German outlets Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR. The new law would apply only to jihadis who are of age, have a second […]

Government & Politics

German interior minister defends deportation of Berlin terrorist associate A friend of the Berlin Christmas market attacker is at the center of a probe into security shortcomings and a botched investigation. Bilel Ben Ammar was quickly deported following the 2016 truck attack.

(Deutsche Welle) Germany’s interior minister on Thursday defended the hasty deportation of an Islamic extremist who had dinner with Anis Amri the night before he killed 12 people in a 2016 truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market. Bilel Ben Ammar, a […]

Government & Politics

‘Terrorist accomplice’ in Anis Amri Berlin attack deported, according to report Germany deported a key suspect in the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack before he was questioned, according to leaked documents. But authorities denied reports that Bilel Ben Ammar worked for Moroccan intelligence.

(Deutsche Welle) German authorities deported a Moroccan secret agent to hide his involvement in the December 2016 Christmas market attack in Berlin, according to an internal document leaked to the German magazine Focus. However, sources within German security forces have since told public […]

Legal

Newcastle man appears in court charged with inciting an atrocity in Germany Fatah Mohammed Abdullah was charged with inciting two people to commit a terror attack in Germany

(Newcastle Chronicle) A Newcastle man accused of plotting a terrorist bomb attack in the UK has appeared in court charged with inciting an atrocity in Germany. Fatah Mohammed Abdullah, 33, was arrested in December last year after he allegedly bought “explosive pre-cursors” […]

Government & Politics

Germany: Horst Seehofer sets terms for repatriating ‘Islamic State’ foreign fighters Some 40 foreign fighters who fought for 'Islamic State' and are in detention in Syria reportedly have German passports. Germany's conservative interior minister has said they can only return under strict conditions.

(Deutsche Welle) Germany will only take back “Islamic State” foreign fighters and their families if they can prove their identities and they do not pose a serious security threat, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has said. “In the interest of the security of […]