Police officer slain; demands for returns to Afghanistan intensify
A 25-year-old immigrant from Afghanistan seriously harmed a police officer last week during an assault on members of the anti-Islam movement, Pax Europa, by stabbing them. A few days later, the wounded officer succumbed to his injuries. Five other members of the Pax Europa group also sustained injuries in the attack.
The suspect, who has resided in Germany since 2014, had his asylum application turned down in 2014, as reported by the "World" on Monday. However, he was reportedly granted a temporary residence permit nine years later. The newspaper also mentioned that he had a child with a German woman and was granted custody of the child.
In response to the suspected Islamic act, several politicians voiced their opinions in different media outlets. Linnemann remarked in an RTL and ntv program on Monday that criminals who arrived in Germany as refugees should face deportation. He expressed this desire not only for Germany but for Afghanistan as well. The Union party plans to call for a plenary session in the Bundestag regarding violence against policewomen and policemen.
The German Interior Minister, Wiese, agreed and blatantly called for the deportation of criminals to Afghanistan. Hamburg's Interior Senator, Andy Grote, echoed the sentiment on Welt TV, demanding deportations to Afghanistan.
In defense of deportations to Afghanistan, Green party representative Omid Nouripour cautioned against such actions. "Making a deal with Afghanistan comes at a cost," he said in Berlin. He pointed out the consequences of similar agreements made in the past, referring to the payment of money to the Taliban and the strengthening of the Islamic movement.
Wiese hopes to establish no-go zones for knives to boost local police presence and engage in preventive measures. Public transportation has been suggested as an example of a no-go zone for knives.
An official from the Federal Ministry of the Interior expressed concern about stricter laws, stating that the regulations on knives are already quite stringent. Sharp fixed knives with blades over twelve centimeters are not allowed outside one's property, and the acquisition and possession of butterfly knives are banned.
Scholz expressed sympathy and emphasized the importance of personal freedom, stating that the police officer's death was a testament to serving the law. "The murdered police officer in Mannheim defended the right of all of us to speak our minds." He added that any violent attempts to limit these rights would be met with the full force of the law.
Minister Nancy Faeser of the SPD expressed gratitude for the late police officer's service and recognized the risks inherent in their job. "This horrifying act demonstrates how perilous it can be for our country and society to protect our fundamental rights of expression."
FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai demanded tougher measures against Islamic terrorism.
Even the leftist party leader, Martin Schirdewan, advocated for combating political Islamism while warning against presuming guilt based on origin.
Chairman of the Police Union, Jürgen Kopelke, advised against instigating political debates during the mourning period. "This is not the time for political demands," he said to the "Rheinische Post."
