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Photo: DPA

Police mount nationwide raid against Islamists

Published: 13 Mar 13 13:25 CET | Print version
Updated: 13 Mar 13 15:28 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20130313-48511.html

Hundreds of German police officers raided suspected Islamist extremists in several states on Wednesday, aiming to confiscate possessions and funds belonging to three now banned groups.

The country's Interior Ministry confirmed that in North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse alone, officers targeted 20 houses thought to belong to people connected to Salafist groups – a radical branch of Islam.

The targeted organisations are "DawaFFM" and "Islamische Audios", as well as "An-Nussrah", which had been part of the "Millatu Ibrahim" group that was banned in June 2012, a ministry statement said. All three were on Wednesday made illegal.

“Salafism, as it is represented by the groups banned today, is not compatible with our peaceful, democratic constitution," he said.

He said the ban also served to protect the large number of peaceful Muslims. "They should not suffer from the conflicts which are deliberately provoked by extremists," he said.

There were thought to be around 4,500 Salafists in Germany last year - up from the 3,800 estimated in 2011. This is a rise which has left security officials concerned.

Salafism is a religious, political Islamic movement in which its followers often reject the principles of liberal western democracy.

DPA/AFP/The Local/jcw

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

14:58 March 13, 2013 by ChrisRea
I think it is very good to organise such raids. However, it seems that today's was not a very successful one, as the total value of goods and money confiscated is only some 10.000 Euro (so no significant operations were unveiled).

Mr. Friedrich's words were twisted by TheLocal. The original can be translated as "That's why the ban (of these groups) serves also for the protection of the extremely large number of peaceful Muslims" ("Darum dienen die Verbote auch dem Schutz der übergroßen Zahl friedlicher Muslime.") TheLocal says however: "The existence of the banned groups ... meant protecting the millions of other peaceful Muslims that lived in the country." Quite a bit different, isn't it?
15:35 March 13, 2013 by The Local Germany
Thanks for your comment ChrisRea - it's true we didn't do a good job with Friedrich's quote - the blame lies with flu rather than a conspiracy. Have updated.
17:19 March 13, 2013 by TG22
"Salafism is a religious, political Islamic movement in which its followers often reject the principles of liberal western democracy."

But the do seam to enjoy quite a lot the dole coming from those democracies.
18:00 March 13, 2013 by catjones
ChrisRea

I think it is very good to organise such raids.

Just like the good old days, eh Rea?
18:48 March 13, 2013 by ChrisRea
Yeah, just like the good old days. Oh, those anti-mafia raids! Or those against far-right and far-left extremists. Those were the days ...
10:37 March 14, 2013 by raandy
ChrisRea Those days have never gone away only the names of the participants have changed :-)
15:47 March 15, 2013 by Zubair Khan
Police mount nationwide raid against Islamists, instead Islamists if word used Salafists it could have saved other Muslims from embarassing situation
21:50 March 15, 2013 by Lindahc
why r they in germany in the first place? Not like they were invited, if they don't like the ways of the "west", then don't go west. They just want to start trouble is my guess. Too bad so many good ppl. will feel the rath because of these groups. German gov. is doing the right thing, get to them fast and get rid of them fast!
12:51 March 16, 2013 by sunnyboyshines
@Zubair Khan: The day the regular Islamists start publicly condemning the extremists, instead of playing 'unfair victims',then the embarassing situation would take care of itself
21:49 March 17, 2013 by ChrisRea
@ sunnyboyshines

Well, that day already came long time ago. I hope you are not following only Western media, are you?
05:49 March 18, 2013 by cynicoren
@Lindahc - They are going westwards because they want to convert the west to Islam. BTW , they succeed slowly but surely (try UK , France, Belgium and Scandinavia)
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