Not even a week has passed since the suspected Islamist knife attack in Solingen. Now the federal government is taking action – with regard to knives, asylum and security authorities.
As a consequence of the deadly knife attack in Solingen, the federal government has agreed on new measures to protect against Islamist terror, against irregular migration and to tighten gun laws. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser spoke of “far-reaching” and “tough” steps. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (both SPD), who was not present at the presentation because of his summer trip, said on the sidelines of a citizens’ dialogue in Seelow, Brandenburg: “It is good that it happened so quickly, so precisely, and I am glad that these measures could be presented today.” They should now be put into action quickly.
Cancellation of benefits for certain asylum seekers
The traffic light government agreed to cut benefits for certain asylum seekers. This concerns migrants for whom another European state would be responsible, which has agreed to take them back. This is intended to increase the pressure to leave the country. Faeser also stressed, however, that “no one will starve in Germany or sleep on the streets.” Those affected would then no longer receive benefits in Germany – the destination country would then be responsible for that.
Green Party leader Britta Haßelmann was skeptical about this plan. “The current legal situation is that people who are required to leave the country only have a limited right to benefits. In addition, there are very clear guidelines from the Federal Constitutional Court regarding the minimum subsistence level for all people, including refugees, and the case law of the European Court of Justice, which we have to observe,” Haßelmann told the newspapers of the Mediengruppe Bayern.
Easier deportations, more grounds for exclusion from asylum
In future, it will be easier to deport people if they have committed a crime with a weapon or other dangerous tool. In addition, it will be easier to exclude migrants from protection in Germany if they have committed crimes. “In future, criminalization of human trafficking and crimes with an anti-Semitic, racist, xenophobic, gender-specific, anti-sexual orientation or other inhumane motive can also lead to exclusion from protection,” the paper states.
A working group of the federal and state governments will also look for ways to improve the Dublin procedure – that is, the regulations for deporting asylum seekers to other European states that are responsible for them. This was the case with the suspected Solingen attacker, who should actually have been deported to Bulgaria.
Anyone who returns to their home country without a valid reason will lose protection in Germany – for example when traveling on vacation. However, a return for a funeral, for example, should be possible, explained State Secretary Anja Hajduk from the Federal Ministry of Economics.
Fewer knives in public
In addition, the use of knives in public spaces is to be further restricted. This includes a general ban on knives on long-distance buses and trains, at festivals and other large events. There is also to be a ban on switchblades, although exceptions are to be possible – for example for hunters. The requirements for firearms permits are to be increased to ensure that extremists do not have access to weapons and explosives.
More powers for security authorities
The powers of the security authorities in the fight against Islamism are to be expanded. In future, investigative authorities will be able to compare publicly available images biometrically with photos of suspects or wanted persons. The Federal Office for Migration (Bamf), which is responsible for asylum procedures, will also be able to do this in order to verify the identity of those seeking protection.
A new task force for the prevention of Islamism, whose members will come from academia and practice, will advise the federal government in the future. The instrument of banning associations will continue to be used against Islamist associations.
In the suspected Islamist attack in Solingen last Friday evening, an attacker killed three people with a knife and injured eight others at a town festival. The suspected perpetrator is 26-year-old Syrian Issa Al H., who is in custody. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office is investigating him for murder and suspected membership of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), among other things. The group claimed responsibility for the crime. The suspected perpetrator was actually supposed to have been deported to Bulgaria last year, but this failed.
Union calls for further steps, AfD speaks of “panic PR”
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt stated: “Obviously, things are now possible that the traffic light coalition has always rejected.” He announced that he would conduct a thorough investigation. The number of illegal immigrants must fall, the number of deportations must rise, Dobrindt told the German Press Agency. The first parliamentary secretary of the Union faction, Thorsten Frei (CDU), told the “Tagesspiegel”: “There is little that is wrong in the paper, but also far too little to meet the current challenge.” Another decisive factor is rejections at the German border.
AfD leader Alice Weidel did not take the plan seriously. “Those primarily responsible for the migration disaster and the erosion of internal security are acting as if they seriously want to solve the self-inflicted migration crisis just before the state elections,” she wrote on X. “Voters will not be blinded by this pure panic PR.”
Sahra Wagenknecht, chairwoman of the BSW named after her, also doubted the seriousness of the plans. “While the BSW had already called for a stop to uncontrolled migration before the crimes in Mannheim and Solingen, the traffic light coalition is announcing the measures not out of conviction, but out of fear of Sunday,” she told the dpa.
The “security package” is likely to cause discussion, especially among the Greens. “The fact that the traffic light coalition is reacting to the terrible terrorist attack in Solingen with further tightening of asylum laws is a disgrace. Instead of fighting Islamism, refugees are being fought,” complained Katharina Stolla, co-head of the youth organization Green Youth. Party leader Omid Nouripour, on the other hand, praised the plans: “It is good that the security authorities are being strengthened, gun laws are being tightened and we are making progress in prevention.”
SPD leader Saskia Esken told the “Augsburger Allgemeine” that they were declaring war on Islamist terror. But she also announced: “With all the measures that must now be taken, we as the SPD will pay very close attention to ensuring that humanity and compliance with international obligations are always observed.” Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) spoke of a sensible and useful package to improve the security situation in Germany.
Working group with opposition to meet next week
Work on the package of measures had already begun the weekend after the attack. It should now be implemented as quickly as possible, said Faeser – certainly not next year. Chancellor Scholz also announced talks with the states and the Union as the largest opposition force on Wednesday. A working group, which includes representatives from all three traffic light parties, is to meet for the first time next week.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
