Lower Saxony enforces restriction on Salafist group in social media.
The Hannover Ministry revealed that police raided eight sites in Braunschweig and Berlin on a Wednesday morning to enforce a ban and gather evidence. Along with this, the association's structures were dissolved, and assets were seized.
Niedersachsen's Interior Minister, Daniela Behrens from the SPD, termed the ban as a significant blow against the Salafist scene not only in Lower Saxony but also beyond. She added that authorities have consistently taken necessary actions as soon as a central hub within the scene emerged.
The German-speaking Muslim Community is believed to be a central point of Salafist-extremist activities in Lower Saxony due to their "impressive reach, particularly in media relevant to young people." The association live-streams Salafist sermons and communicates through platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Behrens emphasized, "We will not tolerate associations where unbelievers, women, or Jews, as well as our social order, are frequently degraded and called for their suppression."
Bans are crucial in the authorities' battle against extremist groups. The Federation and State Interior Ministries have the authority to prohibit associations if they violate criminal statutes or undermine the democratic constitutional order. This is outlined in the Association Act.
Experts have cautioned against a "TikTokization of Islamism" by a new generation of Salafist preachers. This involves deliberately using widespread social networks to attract and influence young individuals. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Brandenburg described this pattern as a "fire accelerator" for radicalization processes.
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The raids were conducted in Braunschweig and Berlin, which are located in Lower Saxony and Berlin respectively. The SPD's Daniela Behrens, the Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, praised the ban as an effective measure against Salafist extremism both within and outside Lower Saxony. The association's use of social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram for live-streaming Salafist sermons and networking was highlighted as a concern. The ban was enforced under the Association Act, granting the Federation and State Interior Ministries the power to prohibit associations that violate criminal statutes or undermine the democratic constitutional order. Experts have raised warnings about a "TikTokization of Islamism" by Salafist preachers, utilizing popular social media networks as a tool for radicalization.
