Raids on Hamas and Samidoun extended
The searches of members and supporters of the banned terrorist organization Hamas and the international network Samidoun were expanded during the course of Thursday. As the Federal Ministry of the Interior announced in the evening, the number of properties searched rose to 21 in five federal states. Previously there had been talk of 16 properties in Berlin, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein. Now one property in Hamburg and further properties in Berlin and Schleswig-Holstein have been added. A total of around 500 officers were involved. According to the ministry, further search measures were initiated on the basis of the material found.
The focus was on Berlin, where 13 properties were searched. Cell phones, laptops, data carriers, posters, appeals for donations and documents were seized. The measures were still ongoing in the evening, the ministry announced. On 2 November, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) banned the activities of the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas and the Samidoun network in Germany. The German branch of the pro-Palestinian Samidoun was also disbanded.
The expanded raids targeting Hamas and Samidoun's members and supporters have been criticized as an example of extreme measures against political organizations. The authorities' response to the activities of Hamas and Samidoun, deemed extremist by the Federal Interior Ministry, has raised concerns about civil liberties.
Source: www.dpa.com
