"Germany has a prolonged history of Islamism"
How do we shield ourselves from Islamic extremist violence if IS strikes Germany at its core? On the "Caren Miosga" talk show, Herbert Reul criticizes the coalition government. Saskia Esken acknowledges deep sorrow. A police officer receives praise - and Friedrich Merz's criticism.
The ARD program "Caren Miosga" discusses internal security issues on Sunday evening due to the knife attack in Solingen, where an individual suspected of supporting IS killed three people and severely injured several others. It's not about knife bans, but about the escalating tone in asylum policy before the state elections in Thuringia and Saxony, the police's role - and Germany's fight against increased Islamic terror threats within its own borders in recent years.
Herbert Reul, CDU's interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, starts the show, but reveals little about the suspect's motives or whether they actually acted for IS. The key thing, he says, is that the police promptly handed the 26-year-old Syrian to the Federal Prosecutor's Office. Reul hints that the suspect might be cooperating, following surrender.
Miosga wonders how the man managed to bypass authorities, considering he was set for deportation earlier. "He didn't go undergo legal deportation," Reul explains. "He was always present, except for that one occasion when he was supposed to be deported." This leaves many questions, Reul says. Are existing deportation regulations sufficient? Are current mechanisms adequate? "I have doubts. We should closely examine this," says the CDU man, concluding: "The result is unsatisfactory, and it needs to be altered, but not rashly."
Reul calls for more legal options for police and constitutional protection, better intelligence gathering, as Germany wrestles with data protection and relies too much on foreign intelligence services in combating terrorism. The CDU man sees many flaws in the traffic light coalition. "I'm fed up with it," he says: "This nonsense about what one could, should, must do." The Berlin parties should come to a consensus instead of tearing each other apart.
Saskia Esken, the SPD federal chairwoman, opposes Reul's approach. "We can't just talk about mistakes made by other parties tonight. However, we need to discuss how to address this critical issue," she says. Germans must not sacrifice their freedom for protection against terrorism, she warns: "That's exactly what Islamism seeks." Esken suggests putting pressure on Telegram and social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok to report illegal activities. Efficient use of existing laws should be improved in Germany, especially with Telegram, which currently resists.
Friedrich Merz's proposal to halt accepting Syrian and Afghan asylum seekers is met with resistance by Esken. "Adopting such a policy is incompatible with our laws while our constitution restricts it," she says. "Existing terrorists should be deported, even to those countries," Esken adds.
Applause first goes to Jochen Kopelke, the federal chairman of the Police Trade Union. He sees the internet as a "primary breeding ground" for Islamist terrorists, but acting against them becomes harder. Police and domestic intelligence agencies must be equipped with advanced digital technology to keep pace with the 21st century. There's still excessive paperwork, and data protection and authorization restrictions are "too strict," he says, but progress lies in allowing "online surveillance and data utilization." Additionally, Kopelke highlights a resource issue, with too few police officers for terrorism prevention and fight.
Rise of IS once more
Miosga then moves the discussion to current threats of Islamist terrorism in Germany. "This had been a foreseeable outcome for anyone dealing with the topic," says Reul. Esken calls it a "barbaric and cowardly attack" with a "terrorist background." Esken sees it as a sign that "we live in an era growing increasingly prone to experiencing Islamist attacks." That there's "no absolute security" despite all measures is "extremely distressing for our society."
Michael Goetschenberg, ARD expert for terrorism and domestic security, is unsurprised that the attack occurred at a smaller event, with strict UEFA European Football Championship security measures in place. An attack at a smaller event sends a threatening "message that anyone and anywhere could be targeted."
According to Goetschenberg, there was a general belief that Islamic terror had become less prominent. This belief was fueled by the perceived decline of IS, often referred to as the "bright star" of the scene. However, this perception has changed. The IS offshoot known as Islamic State Province Khorasan (ISPK) is now seen as a significant threat in Europe. ISPK emerged from Afghanistan, with Khorasan representing a historical region in Central Asia that encompasses parts of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Iran. The expert explains that the instability in the Middle East is contributing to the resurgence of Islamic terrorism, as terror organizations are fully aware of the issue.
El-Masrar, a publicist, discusses how IS exploits the Palestinian conflict to create instability in Western countries. Despite having strained relations with Hamas, IS manages to create a sense of insecurity, and even manages to sow internal discord, as demonstrated by the case of Solingen where right-wing groups are using the attack for electoral gains in Saxony and Thuringia.
Given these circumstances, it's crucial for Germany to take a stronger stance on Islamism and find a way to address it effectively. El-Masrar emphasizes that Islamism has been a part of Germany's landscape for a long time, relying on support from both the left and the right. The common enemy images often include "Israel and the Jews," and politics has failed to push Islamic organizations to clearly distance themselves from it. According to El-Masrar, many refugees struggle to understand why there are so few boundaries set against Islamism.
The Islamic State, often referred to as IS, is once again seen as a significant threat in Europe, with its offshoot Islamic State Province Khorasan (ISPK) emerging as a major concern. This resurgence of Islamic terrorism is partly due to the instability in the Middle East, which terror organizations are exploiting to further their goals.
Given the ongoing threats from groups like IS, it's essential for Germany to take a strong stance against Islamism and find effective ways to address it within its borders. The country's internal security measures must be robust enough to protect its citizens while ensuring that fundamental freedoms are not compromised.
