The recent demonstration of over 1000 Islamists in Hamburg has sparked concerns among security agencies and politicians. The participants responded to a call from the extremist group “Muslim Interaktiv,” classified as such by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The state police classify 984 Islamists as “threats” and “relevant persons,” with over two-thirds of them holding German citizenship, according to the latest data from the federal government. The Ministry of the Interior states that Islamism has appeal in vulnerable parts of all population groups.
A response from the federal government to a query by the AfD parliamentary group reveals that most Islamists deemed dangerous by security agencies are German citizens. As of April 3, 2024, there were 480 individuals classified as threats and 504 as relevant persons in the category of “religious ideology” of politically motivated crime by state police. Of these, 342 threats and 334 relevant persons have German or dual citizenship. The report also highlights the presence of Syrians, Turks, Iraqis, and Tajiks among the dangerous individuals.
The majority of dangerous Islamists in Germany are also found within the “Islamist terrorist person potential” defined by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Of the approximately 1680 individuals in this category, around 860 hold German citizenship or dual citizenship, while the rest do not. The response also indicates that twelve Islamist threats or relevant persons were deported in 2023, with four going to Iraq and three to Tajikistan. Currently, 94 threats and 22 relevant persons from the “religious ideology” category are incarcerated in Germany.
The German AfD parliamentarian Martin Hess interprets the prevalence of German citizens among dangerous Islamists as a failure of migration policy and integration measures, as well as the inadequate response to Islamist extremism by previous governments. He expresses concern that the number of German Islamists may continue to rise due to the liberal granting of German citizenship. The AfD has advocated for the revocation of citizenship for criminals, threats, terrorists, and rapists, and for overcoming the automatic assumption that individuals with German citizenship cannot be deported.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of the Interior acknowledges that Islamism and Islamist terrorism have been transnational issues that have unfortunately found appeal across vulnerable segments of the German population for decades. The high number of German nationals among Islamist threats in Germany is not surprising given these factors. The spokesperson emphasizes that solely violating reasonable obligations like observing criminal prohibitions cannot lead to the loss of German citizenship as it would contradict constitutional provisions. Addressing wrongful behavior should primarily be done through existing criminal and public safety laws.
The discussion around the prevalence of German citizens among dangerous Islamists raises concerns about current policies and integration efforts. With various individuals with German citizenship engaging in potentially threatening or criminal activities, the government faces the challenge of balancing security measures with the protection of constitutional rights and legal principles. The ongoing debate over the best approach to addressing and mitigating the risks posed by radical Islamists in Germany highlights the complexity of managing security threats within a diverse and multi-cultural society.
