Germany

Demonstrations

Germany bans Hamas activities, dissolves Samidoun group Germany's Interior Ministry has announced a ban on pro-Palestinian group Samidoun and completely outlawed activities linked to the Islamist militant group Hamas. But what does the tightening of the law mean?

November 2, 2023   

(Deutsche Welle) Germany has announced a ban on Samidoun, a group that says it advocates for Palestinian prisoners, and imposed further prohibitions to stamp out support for the Islamist militant group Hamas, which Berlin already lists as a terrorist organization. Chancellor Olaf […]

Demonstrations

German antisemitism: Robert Habeck jabs Muslim groups, threatens deportations ‘The extent of the Islamist demonstrations in Berlin and other cities in Germany is unacceptable and requires a tough political response,’ says vice chancellor.

November 2, 2023   

(Politico) Germany’s Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck criticized Muslim groups while expressing concern over rising antisemitism in Germany and calling for tough consequences for people committing antisemitic acts. “Antisemitism is not to be tolerated in any form,” Habeck said Wednesday evening in a speech […]

Legal

Germany: Trial of Islamist in Duisburg knife attacks begins The trial of a man accused of murder and attempted murder in the German city of Duisburg has begun. The accused individual shocked the court by repeatedly making Islamist gestures and refusing to stand for the judge.

October 23, 2023   

(Deutsche Welle) The trial of a 27-year-old Syrian man accused of murder and attempted murder began at the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Monday. Federal prosecutors, who took over the case on August […]

Crime

Berlin: 174 arrested at unauthorized pro-Palestinian events Clashes broke [out] between police and protesters at an unauthorized demonstration in the Berlin district of Neukölln. At least 65 police officers were injured.

October 19, 2023   

(Deutsche Welle) At least 174 people were arrested and 65 police officers were injured at unauthorized pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Berlin on Wednesday night, according to a police spokesperson. Authorities had banned such protests, which have been called in response to the conflict […]

Government & Politics

Germany will ban all Hamas-linked activities, Scholz says Germany vows zero tolerance for antisemitism, after terror celebrations by a minority spark outrage.

October 12, 2023   

(Politico) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that anyone who glorifies the crimes of Palestinian militant group Hamas, uses its symbols, condones murder, calls for criminal acts or burns Israeli flags could be prosecuted in Germany. Speaking in the Bundestag, the German parliament, […]

Government & Politics

Henry Kissinger on Hamas attacks fallout: Germany let in too many foreigners As a minority in Berlin cheer Hamas’ attacks on Israel, former top US diplomat says mass immigration was a ‘grave mistake.’

October 11, 2023   

(Politico) Hamas’ attack against Israel being celebrated on the streets of Berlin indicates that Germany has let too many foreigners into the country, according to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. “It was a grave mistake to let in so many […]

Academics & Education

Germany’s first cohort of locally trained imams graduates Germany set up its own training school for imams due to the large number of foreign-trained Islamic religious leaders. The issue now is the lack of jobs for the graduates.

September 30, 2023   

(Deutsche Welle) Twenty-four Muslims from across Germany formally passed their imam training at the country’s new Islamkolleg Deutschland in the northwestern city of Osnabrück on Saturday. The graduates, who included men and women, received their first certificate of completion after attending a two-year part-time course. […]

Crime

Islam belongs to German[y]: president 'Islam, the Muslim religion, Muslim life, Muslim culture have taken root in our country,' Frank-Walte[r] Steinmeier says

September 17, 2023   

(Anadolu) German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Saturday that Islam belongs to Germany amid growing racism and Islamophobia fueled by propaganda of far-right groups and parties that have exploited the refugee crisis and attempted to stoke fear of immigrants. “Islam, the Muslim religion, […]

Children & Teens

German Islamist sentenced to 14 years for killing of girl Former IS member Jennifer W. has had her sentence extended by four years following an appeal by prosecutors. The 32-year-old was found responsible for the death of a Yazidi girl who had been enslaved.

August 29, 2023 and   

(Deutsche Welle) The Munich state court on Tuesday imposed a new, extended 14-year prison sentence on former “Islamic State” member Jennifer W. for her role in allowing a young Yazidi girl, named only as Rania, to die of thirst in Iraq in […]

Demonstrations

Quran burnings ‘disrespectful, inappropriate,’ says Germany Freedom of expression does not cover ‘hate speech or actions of hatred,’ says German government spokeswoman

August 16, 2023   

(Anadolu) Attacks against the Muslim holy book “seek to create division,” a deputy spokeswoman for Germany’s government said on Wednesday, expressing Berlin’s condemnation of such “disrespectful and inappropriate” acts. “We find such acts disrespectful and inappropriate. They seek to create division,” Christiane […]

Crime

AfD Bavaria chief beaten up in organised migrant attack While the Bavarian candidate is under medical observation, the German establishment ponders a ban on the rapidly growing populist party.

August 14, 2023   

(European Conservative) The chairman of the AfD in the Bavarian district of Augsburg and candidate for state legislature is nursing severe wounds after being set upon in what he describes as a politically motivated attack by migrants. Andreas Jurca was returning home […]

Government & Politics

Germany sees surge in Turkish asylum seekers A rising number of educated Turkish citizens who oppose the government are heading to Germany. Many are seeking asylum, but German authorities are less inclined to grant it.

August 14, 2023   

(Deutsche Welle) “Living in fear and uncertainty every day, expecting the police to come back and snatch us from our beds, take us to the station and torture us … we couldn’t stand it anymore. After the death of my father, we […]

Government & Politics

Meet Germany’s first Islamic affairs consultant How can local authorities best understand the various Islamic groups in their communities? Or integrate young Muslims? A German Islamic affairs consultant resolves conflicts between mosque communities and municipalities.

August 13, 2023   

(Deutsche Welle) There are about 2,800 mosques in Germany. Often, they find themselves at the center of discussions or disputes, especially whenever Islamic houses of worship with distinctive characteristics, such as a tall minaret, appear as part of the cityscape. Although the […]

Government & Politics

Germany says Charming Kitten hackers target Iran dissidents Germany's domestic intelligence agency has warned dissident Iranian activists about the threat of cyber espionage against them. The hackers work by gaining the trust of their targets.

August 10, 2023   

(Deutsche Welle) Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) on Thursday warned critics of the Iranian leadership living in Germany that they might be targeted by hackers. The agency said the Charming Kitten online espionage group works by building trust […]

Children & Teens

Germany: Woman sentenced for ‘IS’ membership, breach of care The 33-year-old had been accused of going to Syria in 2016 along with her children and joining the terrorist group.

July 17, 2023   

(Deutsche Welle) A Frankfurt court on Monday handed a German woman a two-year suspended prison sentence due to her past involvement with the so-called “Islamic State” (IS). “She promoted the organization from within,” the presiding judge said of the 33-year-old woman from the [central […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Germany: Hostility toward Muslims is widespread How great is the resentment, racism and discrimination against Germany's 5.5 million Muslims? The Federal Interior Ministry's findings paint a bleak picture.

June 29, 2023   

(Deutsche Welle) A hostile attitude toward Muslims is widespread in large sections of German society. Its manifestations are an everyday reality. One in two people in Germany agrees with anti-Muslim statements. These are the findings published this Thursday (June 29) by the Independent […]

Government & Politics

Islamic extremism: Germany sees reasons for ‘greatest vigilance’ The Federal Ministry of the Interior said that authorities have already prevented two Islamist attacks this year.

June 24, 2023   

(European Conservative) The terror threat from Islamic extremists remains high in Germany, according to the country’s Federal Ministry of the Interior. Department officials said in a press release this week that they must continue to approach this issue with the “greatest vigilance.” […]