Hamburg's Islamist movement has significantly expanded, as per a recent report from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
In Hamburg, the extremist Islamist group Muslim Interaktiv has been hosting protests, leading to public outrage. A rally called for the establishment of a caliphate, sparking controversy across Germany. At the subsequent rally, attempts were made to outlaw the idea of a caliphate.
The Hamburg Constitutional Protection Agency revealed that Islamists tried to exploit the holy month of Ramadan for their ideological goals. Some 80% of Islamists in the city were reported to be violent, though not necessarily prone to committing violence themselves.
The report also highlighted a remarkable rise in politically motivated crimes related to religious ideology from 22 to 62 cases. This surge is largely due to the heightened tension in the Middle East resulting from the Islamic Hamas' assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the consequent Palestinian protests that often exhibited anti-Semitic undertones.
Meanwhile, right-wing extremist crimes surged by 52%, from 484 in 2022 to 716 in 2023, according to the Constitutional Protection Report. Notably, almost 80% of these incidents involved non-violent acts of speech and symbol use. There was little change in the number of right-wing extremist violent crimes, with just two more incidents occurring in 2023 compared to 2022.
During a presentation of the 2023 Constitutional Protection Report, Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD) remarked on the high demand for the agency's services, expressing concern about the state of democracy. He added that authorities would continue to combat those who threaten the constitution.
Despite a decline in membership from 1130 to 1060, left-wing extremism in Hamburg is deemed robust by the Constitutional Protection Agency. In recent times, the Antifa movement has seen a boost in support among younger compartments. Approximately 76% of left-wing extremists in the city were considered violent by the agency.
Read also:
- The report on the Protection of the Constitution emphasizes the personal potential of Islamists in Hamburg to escalate political tensions during Ramadan.
- Amidst the backdrop of Hamburg being a Hanseatic city known for its tolerance, the constitutional protection report underscores the challenge posed by the rising Islamist scene.
- During the Ramadan period, Islamists in Hamburg sought to leverage their potential to advance their ideological goals, according to the constitutional protection report.
- In light of the increased activities of Islamists in Hamburg, concerns about upholding the protection of the constitution during future religious festivals like Ramadan have surfaced in the constitutional protection report.
