An Islamist minority in Germany has also repeatedly called for the introduction of a caliphate. This just happened at a demonstration in Hamburg, when more than 1,000 people gathered in the St. Georg district. Their slogan: “Caliphate is the solution”. But what is a caliphate anyway, and what would such a state with strict religious rules look like?
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An overview of central questions and answers on the topic
What is the literal meaning of “Caliphate”?
Translated, the Arabic word “caliphate” means something like succession. It refers to the successors of the Islamic prophet Mohamed.
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Who rules in a caliphate?
In a caliphate, a single person rules over the people. The caliph is also the highest guardian of the faith and must adhere to Sharia law in his actions – these laws and norms emerge from the Koran. If the caliph violates Sharia law, he can theoretically be deposed. In this case, his successor can be elected by the people.
Who demands the caliphate?
The caliphate is repeatedly called for by radical Islamic groups who see Sharia law as the only legal basis for state trade. The groups also include the Hizb ut-Tahrir movement, which is now banned in Germany. It rejects democratic principles such as the separation of powers or free elections.
The group Muslim Interaktiv (MI) is behind the latest demonstration in Hamburg. It was founded in the Hanseatic city in 2020, is monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and is considered to be definitely extremist. The head of the group is Joe Adade Boateng, who is very active on social media platforms such as Tiktok.
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What might life be like in a caliphate?
From the perspective of critics, strict adherence to equally strict laws would drastically restrict essential freedoms as we know them in Western societies. “It is a brutal order in which women have no rights, homosexual people are murdered, Jews and Christians are treated as second-class citizens, where so-called infidels like the Yazidis are killed, slavery is permitted, wars are waged in the name of Islam.” says the Israeli-Arab psychologist and extremism researcher Ahmad Mansour in an interview with the Editorial Network Germany (RND).
The possible punishments for people who do not adhere to the rules of Sharia can often be brutal if interpreted in an extreme manner. Possible sanctions also include flogging and stoning.
Which states have a caliphate?
Today, no modern state invokes the form of the caliphate. However, there are various special Islamic communities such as the Ahmadiyya and the Muridiyya, which live in their own areas like in a caliphate.
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The Islamic State (IS) also proclaimed a caliphate in 2014 under the leadership of Bakr al-Baghdadi. The origins of the communities are mainly limited to Africa and the Middle East.
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