Were German Islamic associations too hesitant in their reactions after the Hamas massacre? A chairman sees a special responsibility to take action against anti-Semitism within his own ranks.
The Central Council of Muslims urges pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Germany to exercise restraint. “I’m really very worried,” said the chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, Aiman Mazyek, on ARD’s “Tagesthemen”. Hatred, violence and anti-Semitism are currently being experienced on the streets. “At this point I condemn this very clearly and clearly,” emphasized Mazyek. “I also appeal to Muslims in particular, especially in demonstrations, to take part with restraint and to take a close look at who the operators are.”
An alternative, for example, is prayers for peace. However, it is also important that people who have lost relatives in the Gaza Strip, for example, can express their grief, said Mazyek.
“German Muslims have a special responsibility”
In the past few days there have been several riots at pro-Palestinian demonstrations. “I do not hide the fact that there are also Muslims who are anti-Semitic and we have to fight that,” said the Central Council Chairman. Any form of anti-Semitism or racism is a sin in Islam. “We as German Muslims in particular have a special responsibility, including towards Jews and Israel.” He himself visited a synagogue yesterday to “show a sign of sympathy, compassion, but also solidarity.”
The Central Council is one of the largest Muslim umbrella organizations in Germany. After the brutal Hamas attack on Israel, there was criticism that the associations had spoken out too late and had not condemned Hamas’ actions clearly enough. They were not invited to the rally against anti-Semitism and for solidarity with Israel in Berlin planned for Sunday – only a liberal Muslim organization will be represented there.
Lang warns of general suspicion
“We should be careful not to place all Muslims under general suspicion,” said Green Party leader Ricarda Lang to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. There are many voices from the Islamic community that have taken a clear position against Hamas. But she would have liked a “clearer statement from the Islamic associations”. Lang’s party colleague, Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, wrote on Platform
The federal chairman of the Junge Union, Johannes Winkel, said yesterday at the Germany Day of the CDU/CSU youth organization in Hanover: “Germany has a serious problem with political Islam. This extends from backyard mosques to the tops of Muslim associations that are not for it “We felt it was necessary to distance ourselves from Hamas. That’s why we need a plan of action against political Islam.”
Mazyek condemned the Hamas massacre on ARD and remarked: “Unfortunately, Hamas terror joins the history of ideological, extremist groups such as IS and Al-Qaeda.” The Secretary General of the Islamic Community Millî Görüş, Ali Mete, had previously emphasized in the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit” that it was a terrorist attack, “no ifs or buts.” His organization rejects “any kind of violence.”
Source: Stern
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