Radicality - Islamist violence numbers surging in Hamburg
The number of radical Islamists in Hamburg designated by the authorities as violent is growing. The Senate revealed in response to a question from the Left Party that as of the end of 2023, 1,520 individuals fall into this category, compared to 1,450 listed in the 2022 constitutional protection report - a nearly 5% increase.
Since 2019, the number of violent Islamists in Hamburg has actually escalated by approximately 13%. Back then, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution had tallied 1,345 individuals matching this criterion.
At present, 19 individuals in Hamburg are categorized as "religious ideologies", a term used by the police to denote people likely to commit severe acts of violence, including potential terrorist attacks. Ten of these individuals are currently detained in Germany or abroad, with four others located abroad.
The Senate approximates that the total Islamist presence in the city amounts to 1,840 people - a slight increase from the 2022 report's count of 1,755.
Left Party co-leader of the parliamentary group, Cansu Özdemir, expressed grave concern over this upsurge in violence-oriented Islamists. "Even if the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is now paying closer attention and the figures are higher as a result, we must presume that there is indeed an increase in Islamism", Özdemir told the German Press Agency.
She also criticized the Senate's "Taking Effective Measures Against Violent Salafism and Religious Extremism" concept, introduced in 2014 and revised in 2016, deeming it an unmitigated failure necessitating a complete overhaul.
Provocatively, she reiterated her call for the ban of the group Muslim Interaktiv, labeled by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a verified extremist organization and responsible for an Islamist demonstration in St. Georg the preceding Saturday, eliciting international outrage.
Özdemir calls for proactive intervention: "If the activities and maneuvers of Muslim Interaktiv have been known for years, I wonder why there has been such inaction for so long. Association bans hinder extremist organizations and make a significant impact on the population."
However, Özdemir maintains that repressive measures alone are insufficient. "The Senate urgently needs to revamp its outreach efforts", she insisted. The inquiry also underscored that the Furkan movement, under scrutiny by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, is actively attracting new supporters using enticing proposals such as childcare services.
The politician emphasized that Muslim communities must be informed about the hazards of Islamist groups. "The Senate possesses means to act; it merely needs to exercise them."
A summary of the Senate's response to the Left Party's inquiry.
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Source: www.stern.de
