As of: May 4, 2024 7:23 p.m
A week ago, around 1,000 supporters of the “Muslim Interaktiv” group demonstrated on Steindamm not far from Hamburg Central Station. There was a counter-demonstration at the same location on Saturday.
According to the police, up to 1,000 people took part in the rally in St. Georg at midday. The demonstrators came from very different camps. Iranian, Israeli and German flags, rainbow flags, Antifa symbols and various German party emblems could be seen. Banners and signs bore slogans such as “Against all anti-Semitism”, “Freedom” and “Matriarchy instead of Caliphate”.
Overall, the event was peaceful. A confrontation with three Islamists on the sidelines was immediately stopped by the police and the speaker was taken away.
Thering sees a “strong signal against hatred and agitation”
The speakers also included prominent Hamburg politicians, including CDU parliamentary group leader Dennis Thering. “Today, Hamburg sent a strong signal against hatred and agitation. Islamism has no place with us,” said Thering. “Our constitutional state must act, and with the utmost severity.”
“Not to be banned per se”
The parliamentary group leaders of the SPD, Dirk Kienscherf, and the Greens, Dominik Lorenzen, pointed out that politicians take Islamism very seriously and that the problem is a widespread concern among citizens. Demonstrations like those of the “Muslim Interaktiv” group cannot be banned per se under current law, said Kienscherf. “Where it cannot be banned, we have to endure it.” Lorenzen said that the rule of law applies to everyone, “even to those who are against the rule of law.”
The Hamburg FDP state chairman and member of the Bundestag, Michael Kruse, called for government consequences for Islamist groups: “I expect the Senate and I expect the Red-Green Party to not just say that we have to endure it.”
The Kulturbrücke association, among others, called for the rally against Islamism and anti-Semitism. A broad alliance of organizations, clubs and democratic parties joined the call. “We have decided not to give this street to the Islamists,” said Hourvah Pourkian from the Kulturbrücke Hamburg.
Nationwide outrage after Islamist demonstration
The rally was co-organized by the Secular Islam Association and the Kurdish Community in Germany. They are calling for a clear ban on the group “Muslim Interaktiv”, the organizer of the demonstration a week ago. “No one harms the Islamic religion and Muslims more than the Islamists themselves,” said Ali Ertan Toprak, federal chairman of the Kurdish community.
At the rally last Saturday, around 1,000 demonstrators aggressively denounced what they saw as anti-Islam policies and media reporting in Germany. In addition, a caliphate was called for as a solution to social problems. The demonstration sparked nationwide outrage.
The Interior Committee of the Hamburg Citizenship will deal with the issue at the beginning of June.
Further information
Because of the tolerant right to demonstrate, a demonstration by “Muslim Interactive” was not prohibited. The Hamburg authorities need to be bolder, says Peter Kleffmann. more
The security authorities in the Hanseatic city are particularly concerned about recruitment attempts on the Internet, for example via Tiktok. (05/02/2024) more
The CDU is angry, among other things, because the SPD and the Greens rejected a special meeting of the Interior Committee on the Islamist demonstration last weekend. (04/30/2024) more
Democratic organizations want to take to the streets on Saturday. It is a response to the “Muslim Interactive” rally. (04/30/2024) more
The demonstration by Islamists in Hamburg is causing discussions across the country. The focus is on the question of why the event was not banned. (04/29/2024) more
This topic in the program:
NDR 90.3 | NDR 90.3 Current | May 4, 2024 | 17:00 o’clock