Islamist demo goes ahead in Hamburg under strict conditions

DW
Sat, 11 May 2024 00:00 UTC

Hamburg as last week the scene of demonstrations against the Islamists' appeal

An estimated 2,300 people participated in a demonstration organized by the Islamist group Muslim Interactive in the German port city of Hamburg on Saturday, according to police.

The group, classified as extremist by German security authorities, called for a new protest against "censorship and opinions being dictated."

This follows a previous demonstration in late April where participants displayed signs with the words "caliphate is the solution." It came against the backdrop of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, and sparked uproar in Germany and denunciation from leading politicians.

Strict conditions imposed on demonstration

Despite the group's extremist classification, authorities allowed Saturday's demonstration to proceed under strict conditions.

These included bans on incitement of hatred, violence and the denial of Israel's right to exist.

Under the rules, participants were also forbidden to call for a caliphate to take over Germany in word, image or writing.

Ahead of the event, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser welcomed the strict conditions.

What the interior minister said

Faeser said the conditions allowed the police to pursue an "immediate, hard intervention" if necessary.

"In Germany, there are equal rights for women, freedom of religion, and freedom of expression," Faeser told the Funke newspaper group.

"Anyone who would rather live in a caliphate, and therefore in the Stone Age, is against everything that Germany stands for. We defend our constitution — with the means of our constitution."

In response to the Islamist rally, hundreds of people took to the streets of Hamburg last week to voice their opposition to the message and their support for democracy.

rc/lo (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)

Comment: It seems like things are almost at a boiling point.

Reader Comments

ReRan · 2024-05-18T01:36:30Z

By Islamist, do they mean someone who is opposed to the genocide happening in Palestine? And by "support for democracy" do they mean support for the murderers? Merely the fact that they had to add, in a final sentence, a line about the opposition to the rally means that said opposition didn't amount to much.

Basically not a very clear article. Wonder who wrote this?

Buffalo_Ken · 2024-05-18T03:36:12Z

ReRan - The article says this:

The group, classified as extremist by German security authorities, called for a new protest against "censorship and opinions being dictated."

I'm thinking the problem is the "German security authorities" - and could be the foolish Greens whose contradicting ideology is such a cluster eff - I think that is likely.

There is still one line of the Nordstream still open - how bout eff Uncle Sam and get some gas flowing?

For the sake of Europe for Christ's sake - and in the meantime - how bout the greens get their due in Germany....gracious me - what a travesty. Pathetic shame upon Germany.

How is it the Germans just sit there and take it while their industry is shutdown by outside forces?

It makes no sense to the German in me - it rouses my Swabian blood - it is wrong ReRan - it is wrong.

Psstoffgoy · 2024-05-18T12:18:51Z

The group, classified as extremist by German security authorities,

Maybe they should question who imported all these "extremists" into the country in the first place.

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Islamist demo goes ahead in Hamburg under strict conditions

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