Brunswick and Berlin in focus. - Lower Saxony moves against Salafists and prohibits an association.
The German-Speaking Muslim Community (DMG) in Braunschweig has been banned by Lower Saxony, putting an end to their activities in the region. Daniela Behrens, the State's Interior Minister, claimed that this group violated the constitutional order and the idea of peaceful coexistence between nations. She criticized their repeated devaluation and suppression of non-believers, women, and Jews. Behrens went on to state that the closure of DMG was a tough hit against the Salafist movement not only in Lower Saxony, but also beyond the region.
On the day the ban was announced, police carried out raids on eight places - both in Braunschweig and Berlin. No arrests were made, but the group's assets were seized. In Berlin, the police seized two private residences.
The DMG has been under surveillance by the Niedersachsen State Office for the Protection of the Constitution for a long time. The association has been found to be growing more radicalized, with a wide audience of young people reached through their online services and social media platforms. Notorious Salafist preachers appeared frequently, and their speeches did not focus on religious topics but rather hatred, aggression, and calls for violence.
Official Press Release from the Lower Saxony Interior Ministry on the association [June 2023]
