After Islamist demonstrations

Germany: Call for caliphate to become a criminal offense

(Bild: APA/DPA/Axel Heimken)

Following the Islamist demonstration in Hamburg, there are further calls for clear consequences. According to CDU/CSU politician Christoph de Vries, anyone who publicly calls for the establishment of a caliphate in Germany should be punished. The member of the Bundestag is calling for a cross-party unity that such demonstrations should not be tolerated and that criminal action should be taken against them.

"Even if this is sensitive to fundamental rights and represents an encroachment on freedom of opinion, we must take this debate seriously," the opposition politician told the German Press Agency. The German government's religious affairs commissioner, Frank Schwabe (SPD), referred to the limits of religious freedom with regard to such demonstrations.

Public demand could be punishable by law
De Vries emphasized that Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) should submit a legislative proposal. In his view, it would be conceivable, for example, to create a regulation according to which anyone who publicly calls for the establishment of a state order in Germany that is incompatible with the free democratic basic order would be liable to prosecution. It would also be possible to amend the law to include the offense of high treason or defamation of the state.

Last weekend, a demonstration organized by Islamists in Hamburg caused outrage. The more than 1000 participants had aggressively denounced allegedly Islamophobic politics and media coverage. They also called for a caliphate as a solution to social problems - even if only for Islamic states. The rally was organized by the group Muslim Interaktiv, which has been classified as extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

Young Muslims in Germany have made their desire for a caliphate public.

(Bild: APA/DPA/Axel Heimken)

"Hate and incitement are absolutely unacceptable"
The Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, Henrik Wüst, is now also pushing for consequences. "Calls for a caliphate in Germany, hatred and incitement taken to the streets are absolutely unacceptable," the CDU politician told Stern magazine. "The Federal Minister of the Interior should finally ban the organizations behind such caliphate fantasies."

The religious affairs commissioner Schwabe told the "Rheinische Post" (Friday) with regard to the demonstration: "Hatred and agitation and undermining the free democratic basic order naturally have nothing to do with religious freedom. On the contrary, they undermine the idea of respect for human rights - and therefore also freedom of religion and belief - in a democratic, pluralistic political system." A project that calls the free democratic basic order into question cannot invoke religious freedom, even if it repeatedly refers to a religion. "That has just as little to do with religious freedom as right-wing extremists who supposedly want to defend Christianity."

Form of rule from the time of the prophet
The caliphate as a form of rule dates back to the time after the death of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammed, in 632 AD and refers to a system based on Islamic law (Sharia). As Mohammed's deputy, the caliph was both a religious and secular ruler. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had already called for consequences on Monday: "It is quite clear that all Islamist activities must be tackled using the possibilities and options available to our constitutional state." We need to take a close look at "what specific consequences we need to draw from the things we saw there".

Expert does not expect any "caliphate demos" in Austria
In Austria, too, there is growing concern about the increased public appearance of radical Islamists. However, Islamic scholar Rüdiger Lohlker from the University of Vienna does not see any danger of a situation similar to that in Germany. The mobilization potential of groups such as Muslim Interactive is too low in this country. A ban would therefore be of little use, but: "These movements are very attractive, especially for students who are looking for answers and security in life."