Around 1000 Islamists marched through Hamburg over the weekend, calling for a “Caliphate” and the implementation of Sharia. This demonstration, organized by the group “Muslim Interaktiv,” has sparked outrage among politicians, with Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) labeling the march as “extremely unbearable.” Green party leader Nouripour has called on Faeser to take action and ban the group behind the demonstration.
In response to the Islamist demonstration, Hamburg Police Chief Falk Schnabel announced that the Hamburg public prosecutor’s office will be examining the slogans and banners from the march for any criminal relevance. While acknowledging the right to freedom of assembly and expression, Schnabel emphasized the importance of ensuring that demonstrations remain peaceful. The organizer of the demonstration has ties to the group Muslim Interaktiv, which is classified as extremist by the Hamburg State Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
Faeser has called for immediate and strict action by authorities in response to any criminal activities during demonstrations, such as the promotion of terrorism by the radical Islamic Hamas. She emphasized that there should be clear boundaries when it comes to propaganda for Hamas, hate speech against Jews, and calls for violence on German streets. Faeser, along with other SPD politicians, has condemned the calls for a Caliphate in Germany and emphasized the need for a strong defense of the liberal democratic state against extremism.
In light of the recent demonstration, Green party leader Nouripour has also called for a comprehensive response to the Islamist march. He highlighted the importance of a decisive approach and close cooperation between security authorities at both the federal and state levels. Nouripour called for consequences in Hamburg, including the closure of the Islamic Center, which he described as a “nest of Iranian mullah spies.” Faeser is currently considering the closure of the center and supports measures such as strict law enforcement, bans on extremist groups, and increased monitoring by the intelligence services.
Muslim Interaktiv previously organized a demonstration in St. Georg in defiance of a ban last year and mobilized thousands of people for a protest against a Quran burning in Sweden earlier this year. The group’s activities have raised concerns among politicians and law enforcement agencies, prompting calls for stronger measures to address extremist ideologies and actions. The recent demonstration in Hamburg has sparked debates about the limits of freedom of expression and the need to confront radical Islamist movements within Germany. Authorities are now faced with the challenge of balancing these fundamental rights with the need to combat extremism and protect the values of a democratic society.
