More than 1000 Islamists participated in a demonstration in Hamburg, organized by the extremist group “Muslim Interaktiv”, alarming security agencies and politicians. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck criticized the demonstration on the ZDF show “Markus Lanz”, stating that it went against the principles of the German constitution and was essentially a call for a religious terrorist state, not just a caliphate. Habeck called for the revocation of the group’s association rights, emphasizing that such actions cannot be tolerated in a liberal democratic state.
Habeck highlighted the challenges in banning parties, associations, and expressions of opinion, but stressed that the state is not defenseless against such threats. He called for increased vigilance and tightening of measures, warning that there will be consequences for those involved in promoting extremist ideologies. Journalist Michael Bröcker suggested that the political left should also proactively debate issues related to groups like Samidoun and Hamas, while CDU in Hamburg pushed for a ban on “Muslim Interaktiv”, a move that was rejected by the coalition of SPD and Greens.
CSU leader Alexander Dobrindt also condemned the demonstration, calling for harsh consequences against those seeking to establish a caliphate or impose Sharia law in Germany. He proposed legal measures to punish individuals advocating for the abolition of the democratic order, with a minimum prison sentence of six months. The organizer of the demonstration in Hamburg was reportedly linked to Muslim Interaktiv, classified as an extremist group by the Hamburg State Office for the Protection of the Constitution, and speakers at the event openly declared their goal of establishing a caliphate.
Dobrindt urged Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to take immediate action to curb Islamist propaganda in Germany and expand the nationality law to strip individuals of their citizenship if they publicly advocate against the democratic order. Faeser had previously called for a tough response from the state in dealing with such events. The concept of a caliphate originates from the time after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 632 AD, describing a system based on Islamic law (Sharia) where the caliph served as both a religious and secular ruler. Dobrindt emphasized the need for a legal framework to combat extremist ideologies and prevent the spread of radical propaganda in the country.
