Faeser cautions against widespread distrust of Muslims following a knife attack
Following the tragic knife attack in Mannheim, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser cautioned against hasty judgments, expressing her determination to stand up against extremists. In her casual verbiage, she emphasized that "we won't let extremists and terrorists divide us." The SPD leader then clarified that "we'll differentiate between Muslims who are part of our community and Islamists, against whom we'll fight relentlessly."
It's commendable that the Federal Prosecutor's Office has assumed responsibility for the investigation because of "obvious indications of an Islamic motive." Security forces are already vigilantly monitoring the Islamic community, and Faeser pledged to intensify this battle even further. Those who celebrate such acts online may also face legal consequences.
A 25-year-old Afghan brandished a knife at an anti-Islam demonstration in Mannheim's market square on Friday and wounded six men, including a police officer. Tragically, the 29-year-old cop passed away due to his injuries.
The knife attack prompted a fresh discussion about whether or not the resumption of deportations to Afghanistan is feasible. Faeser, however, clarified that the Afghan, who was unknown to the authorities before this incident, did not possess a deportation order and lived in Germany with a residency permit.
The chairman of the Turkish Community in Germany, Aslihan Yesilkaya-Yurtbay, lamented on Monday that "Muslim people are once again under general mistrust, and the calls for distance are increasing." In response, she expressed concern that "these statements fuel tensions and do not promote security and liberty in our society in any way."
Any form of extremism is a clear threat to democracy in Germany, which must be combatted, affirmed Faeser.
