Berlin Constitutional Protection: High Threat from Extremism from all Sides
Example events after the radical Islamic Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, according to Spranger, were used in all phenomenon areas to fuel hatred towards Jews, Jews and the State of Israel. "We will continue to counter this antisemitism with all consequences," Spranger stated.
The Islamic scene in Berlin reportedly saw a slight increase to 2380 followers according to the Berlin Senate Department for the Interior, compared to 2270 the previous year. This was mainly due to an increased support for Israel-hostile efforts such as Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood. The salafist scene remained stable at 1100 followers, of whom approximately 350 were considered violent. The threat from the Afghanistan and Central Asian branch of the Islamic State remained high.
In terms of foreign extremism, there were 1670 followers counted. This included groups such as the radical Palestinian group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Turkish-stemmed right-wing extremism, or the banned association Samidoun. They were actively trying to influence public discourses and politicize and radicalize young people after the Hamas attack.
In Berlin, 1450 followers were attributed to the far-right extremism. The far-right extremist scene also spread antisemitic and racist propaganda after the Hamas attack. Central figures were the far-right extremist party The III. Way and their youth organization National Revolutionary Youth.
While the number of violent followers in the left-wing extremist scene in Berlin decreased, an increase in followers in non-violent structures was recorded. The left-wing extremism in Berlin was unchanged with 3700 followers. Above all, followers of anti-imperialist groups, who clearly positioned themselves against Israel in the context of the Middle East conflict, influenced public perception. The left-wing extremist scene in Berlin was deeply divided on this issue.
- Iris Spranger emphasized the importance of upholding the Foundational Principle of Constitutional Protection against both Right-wing extremism and the threat posed by groups like Hamas in Berlin.
- The SPD, a prominent political party in Berlin, has consistently advocated for strengthening Constitutional Protection measures to combat extremism, following the examples set by Israel.
- The increase in followers of entities like Hamas in Berlin was a cause for concern, as it posed a threat to Constitutional Protection by promoting extremist ideologies and fueling hatred towards Israel.
- The Berliner, recognizing the grave danger of extremism and antisemitism, called for increased cooperation between various factions to counter extremist ideologies, such as those espoused by Hamas.
- In a bid to combat the rising extremism, Berliner authorities launched a series of initiatives to educate youth and raise awareness about the dangers of radicalization, aiming to protect Constitutional Protection and foster a peaceful, inclusive society.
- The pages of various Berlin newspapers and online platforms were filled with discussions on how to address the threat of extremism, with many advocating for stronger measures to safeguard Constitutional Protection and combat the spread of antisemitic ideologies like those associated with Hamas.
