Radicalization - Office for the Protection of the Constitution: Trend towards radicalization on the fringes
Spionage, Islamic terrorists and violent extremists from the left and right spectrum pose a significant threat to security and democracy in Germany, according to the assessment of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) as presented in their latest annual report.
The President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, stated during the presentation of the report, "I have little positive to report on the security situation in Germany." Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said, "We must actively defend our democracy."
The Verfassungsschutz reported an increase in both left-wing and right-wing extremism in the previous year. The report indicates that the number of individuals classified as left-wing extremists increased by approximately 500 people to around 37,000 individuals. Around 11,200 left-wing extremists were considered violent in the previous year, which represents a 3.7% increase from the previous year.
The development in the right-wing extremist spectrum was similar. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution estimates that 14,500 of the approximately 40,600 right-wing extremists are violent (2022: 14,000 and 38,800). The parties "Heimat" (formerly NPD) and "The Right" are now counted by the intelligence service with fewer members than before the deadline.
The New Right's Antaios Publishing House is now considered proven extremist
The neo-right Antaios Publishing House of Götz Kubitschek is no longer considered a suspect case but a securely right-wing extremist endeavor, according to Haldenwang. The more the classification, the more intensive the application of intelligence agency resources, explains the BfV chief and adds, "of course, within the bounds of proportionality." It concerns a publisher that disseminates publications with racist, folkish, sometimes also antisemitic, and historically revisionist content.
New expertise on the AfD is coming soon
The AfD is currently being monitored by the Verfassungsschutz as a suspect case. The Federal Office now counts 11,300 members of the AfD and its youth wing, Young Alternative (JA), as part of the right-wing extremist potential, with double memberships in the party and JA removed.
In the Verfassungsschutz report for the year 2022, around 10,200 AfD members and JA supporters were listed. To assess the extremist potential within the AfD, the Verfassungsschutz referred to the election and voting results at the Federal Party Congress 2022 in Riesa and statements from party functionaries.
The report states, "There is still a significant heterogeneity within the party, so not all party members can be considered supporters of extremist currents."
The AfD has gained net new members since 2022, according to their own statements. When the Verfassungsschutz reports on the new expertise on the AfD that is currently being prepared, is still open. "We won't let ourselves be distracted by that," says Haldenwang. However, the Federal Office will wait for what the North Rhine-Westphalia Higher Administrative Court states in its written reasons in a recent appeal procedure. The court ruled on May 13, 2023, that the AfD's suspicion of being a suspect organization by the Verfassungsschutz was unjustified.
The radical climate activist group "Ende Gelaende" has been reassessed as a left-extremist suspect case by the Constitutional Protection Agency. This means that the domestic intelligence service can now use surveillance methods such as observation and obtaining information from informants (V-people) in the scene to evaluate the group's activities. According to the Constitutional Protection Report for the year 2023, there is talk of a "escalation of actions up to sabotage."
The fundamental papers of "Ende Gelaende" are assessed by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution to have "clearly recognized a radicalization in terms of the prevailing ideological positions of the group." In April, around 100 activists of the group blocked the Uniper coal-fired power plant Scholven in Gelsenkirchen.
"Ende Gelaende" is reportedly organized in 70 local groups. It is said to have branches in all federal states except for Saarland. In response to a journalist's question about what the suspect status means for contacts with the Greens Youth and the Jusos, Faeser replied, "I recommend ending the cooperation."
Threat from Islamic terrorist organizations
The Islamic extremist potential continues to move at a high level with 27,200 people. The greatest danger in this spectrum comes from the group Islamic State Province of Khorasan (ISPK), according to the BfV. The ISPK originated in Afghanistan, and its support base is predominantly from Central Asia. The group has managed to rally many followers and supporters, says Haldenwang. The group calls for "major attacks."
Furthermore, Haldenwang brought bad news: "The ISPK has also managed, possibly through the refugee wave from Ukraine, to bring supporters to Western Europe who are now living in various countries in Western Europe." The intelligence services of the affected states are reportedly able to detect "major preparatory measures" such as the acquisition of weapons.
Faeser refers to several arrests in recent months, which have prevented possible attacks, as well as efforts by his ministry to deport Islamic extremist threats back to Syria and Afghanistan. Regarding Afghanistan, there are now contacts with the authorities in Uzbekistan. For Syria, "we are talking to neighboring countries," says the Minister, who will have to answer many questions at this week's Interior Ministers' Conference of the Federation and the States in Potsdam.
In light of the current threat situation, an "active, hands-on Interior Minister" is needed, said the deputy chairman of the Union faction, Andrea Lindholz. The CDU politician called on Faeser to ban the Islamic Center Hamburg.
Haldenwang: Freedom of Expression has Limits
Although freedom of expression is a high value in Germany, the Constitutional Protection Agency must also deal with the clarification of efforts even below the threshold of criminal law, says Haldenwang. As an example, he cites the latest demonstrations of Islamists in Hamburg, where the caliphate was praised as a desirable form of rule.
A whole chapter of the report, which is over 400 pages long, bears the title "Impacts of the Middle East Conflict and Antisemitism". Haldenwang states that the threat against Jews and Jewish people has become "unbearable". Faeser emphasizes that the security authorities are "actively combating any form of anti-Israeli and antisemitic incitement".
- Götz Kubitschek's neo-right Antaios Publishing House is now considered a securely right-wing extremist endeavor by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV).
- Thomas Haldenwang, the President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, stated that around 11,200 left-wing extremists were considered violent in the previous year, representing a 3.7% increase.
- The AfD is currently being monitored by the Verfassungsschutz as a suspect case, with around 10,200 AfD members and JA supporters listed in the Verfassungsschutz report for the year 2022.
- The radical climate activist group "Ende Gelaende" has been reassessed as a left-extremist suspect case by the Constitutional Protection Agency, and there is talk of a "escalation of actions up to sabotage" in the Constitutional Protection Report for the year 2023.
- The Islamic extremist potential continues to move at a high level with 27,200 people, with the Islamic State Province of Khorasan (ISPK) posing the greatest danger, according to the BfV.
- Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said, "We must actively defend our democracy."
- The report states, "There is still a significant heterogeneity within the AfD, so not all party members can be considered supporters of extremist currents."
- The threat from Islamic terrorist organizations has led Andrea Lindholz, the deputy chairman of the Union faction, to call for an "active, hands-on Interior Minister" and for the banning of the Islamic Center Hamburg.
- Haldenwang mentioned that the intelligence services of the affected states are reportedly able to detect "major preparatory measures" such as the acquisition of weapons by the ISPK, possibly through the refugee wave from Ukraine.
- The development in the right-wing extremist spectrum was similar to the left-wing extremism, with approximately 14,500 of the approximately 40,600 right-wing extremists considered violent.
- Nancy Faeser (SPD) also emphasizes that the security authorities are "actively combating any form of anti-Israeli and antisemitic incitement."
