Interior Minister: Punish denial of Israel's right to exist

Fall Conference - Interior Minister: Punish denial of Israel's right to exist

Joint efforts to protect Jewish life in Germany, the threat of Islamist terrorism and criticism of the plans of the "traffic light" government for the legalization of cannabis dominated the discussions at the autumn conference of interior ministers. Overall, there was a great deal of agreement among the heads of department at the end of their three-day meeting in Berlin. The most important decisions:

Deportations to Syria and Afghanistan: the Conference of Interior Minister s (IMK) is asking the federal government to allow such deportations for serious offenders and so-called "Gefährder". "Gefährder" are people who the police believe are capable of committing serious crimes that pose a threat to the state, including terrorist attacks. Such deportations - for example in cooperation with neighboring countries of origin - are very costly, but should nevertheless be attempted, according to the ministers.

Deportations

The IMK also spoke out in favor of amending the Residence Act to make it easier to "expel persons involved in violent conflicts". The relevant section of the law provides for a special interest in deportation in the case of certain criminal offenses, such as those directed against physical integrity or sexual self-determination. The interior ministers would also like to include breach of the peace and incitement to hatred.

Security at airports

Following a number of incidents in which radical climate protection demonstrators and a child abductor broke into the grounds of airports, the interior ministers want to increase nationwide security measures, as Hamburg's interior senator Andy Grote(SPD) said. The airport operators are responsible for this. Tougher punishment of the perpetrators is also necessary. Under criminal law, up to now it has often only been a matter of trespassing and damage to property. However, disruption of air traffic must be assessed and punished more severely under criminal law.

Immigration

The state ministers expressed their satisfaction with the announcement by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) that the stationary controls at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, which began in mid-October, would continue until at least mid-February. Saxony-Anhalt Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang (CDU) criticized the federal government's decision to only add Moldova and Georgia to the list of so-called safe countries of origin. She said it was logical "that the Conference of Interior Ministers has confirmed that Armenia, India and the Maghreb states should also be classified as safe countries of origin". The list of safe countries of origin must be significantly expanded - this would also send out a signal so that someone "without a real reason for protection does not set off in the first place".

Cannabis

The interior ministers are against the legalization plans of the traffic light government and have called on them to refrain from doing so. "Everyone is aware that the legalization of cannabis has a significant impact on security in our country, which is largely ignored by the federal government," criticized Hesse's Minister of the Interior, Peter Beuth (CDU). The traffic light coalition parties have agreed on the details of a draft bill. Cannabis is to be removed from the list of banned substances in the Narcotics Act. Home cultivation and possession of certain quantities of the drug are to be permitted for adults from April 1, 2024. Joint cultivation clubs are also to be made possible from July 1.

Threat from Islamist terrorism

State Secretary of the Interior Hans-Georg Engelke emphasized: "We have an intensified threat situation, particularly from Islamist terrorism. We are seeing an increase in calls for attacks in the jihadist spectrum." The risk of further emotionalization and radicalization is also very high. That is why the scene is being kept under very close control and everything is being done to stop further radicalization. Since October 7, the Federal Criminal Police Office has had more than 200 channels and content deleted from the Telegram chat channel alone and has sent more than 1,500 requests for deletion to other providers.

Skimming off the assets of criminals: According to the interior ministers, criminals should be able to have assets obtained through crime confiscated much more easily than before. Berlin's Senator of the Interior Iris Spranger (SPD) also emphasized this with regard to a recent court ruling in which the confiscation of a clan member's property was rejected because the judges did not see enough evidence. Spranger emphasized that the so-called reversal of the burden of proof, as in Italy, was necessary. In cases of suspicion, the owner would have to prove where his money came from. This is the only way to weaken criminal structures in the long term. Prison sentences are often ineffective and are even considered a badge of honor by some criminals. "What we have is not enough."

Gaps in civil defense

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) attended the conference as a guest. He spoke with his former counterparts about how the protection of the civilian population can be ensured in the event of tension or war. Everyone agreed that there are gaps here. There is disagreement between the federal and state governments about funding. In contrast to disaster control, which is the responsibility of the federal states, the federal government is called upon to take action here.

Anti-Semitism and Israel's right to exist

Due to the terrorist attack on Israel, the IMK suggested that the public denial and denial of Israel's right to exist should be made a criminal offense. Spranger said that the Federal Minister of the Interior should be asked to examine whether criminal law should be adapted accordingly. This concerns slogans against Israel that have been chanted at demonstrations by Palestinian groups for many years. The interior ministers support the German government's plan not to naturalize foreigners "with anti-Semitic, racist or other inhuman attitudes" as Germans. Naturalization tests should be supplemented with questions on the special responsibility for Jewish life in Germany and Israel's right to exist.

The IMK asks for "the examination of legal possibilities" for people with multiple citizenships who are convicted of forming a terrorist organization or committing another serious crime that endangers the state to lose their German citizenship.