October 7, 2023, will have similar consequences for public debate and coexistence in Europe as 9/11 once did. Just as after the Islamist terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in the USA, the Hamas atrocities in Israel were followed by a wave of solidarity among Islamist extremists. In Germany, people are suddenly glorifying terrorists, and at demonstrations by groups like “Muslim Interaktiv,” there have been public calls for the establishment of a caliphate. This has been accompanied by planned—and thwarted—attacks during the Christmas season; just a few weeks ago, police officer Rouven Laur was killed in Mannheim in a knife attack.
EU members like Germany have an Islamism problem, and not just since yesterday. The problems don’t start when people commit attacks, but rather when an ideology of division is spread: We are the good ones, and the rest of the world is evil. This is exactly what Islamists propagate. However, it is only a small minority of the Muslim population, even though some in the political debate try to portray it differently.
But it is a loud minority. On social media, Islamists reach hundreds of thousands of viewers with their videos. Intelligence services are already talking about a “TikTokization” of Islamism. Propaganda spreads rapidly on social media, with very short and simple messages. This can radicalize people who are susceptible to it incredibly quickly. The highest authority in Islam right now is Sheikh Google, at least for the younger generation. Most future attackers now radicalize themselves online, rather than, as was the case a few years ago, in backstreet mosques, which the intelligence services could relatively easily monitor. And what’s happening online is still not being sufficiently monitored by security agencies.
After the Mannheim attack, the German government wants not only to deport serious offenders more consistently but also to deport foreigners who glorify terrorism. A single “like” could be enough. However, harsh punishments will not solve the deeper underlying problems. Prevention must start in schools. Islamic religious education by teachers who have been trained in Europe must be further expanded. And on social media, there need to be more authentic contents to counter the extremists. From Muslims to Muslims, on equal footing, with the right approach. Instead, some institutions are still printing brochures about youth prevention. That money could be better spent elsewhere.
The Middle East conflict is polarizing. Many believe that Muslims living in Germany must distance themselves from Hamas. However, you don’t need to distance yourself from something you have nothing to do with. But indeed, it is true that some people only see the misery and injustice suffered by one side in relation to October 7 and the war in Gaza. There should be no understanding for those who justify Hamas’s terror.
Many people in Europe who want to talk about the suffering in Gaza and express their sympathy are immediately blamed. Conversely, this is also true for those who want to talk about the suffering of Israelis and Jews. There is so much hostility where people just throw trigger words at each other: genocide, apartheid, anti-Semitism. The full verbal arsenal is immediately drawn. But injustice and injustice do not cancel each other out; they add up.
There is therefore a risk that something will break permanently between Muslims and the majority societies in Europe. Many Muslims are losing trust, saying: “This is no longer my country—I am involved here, I am fully integrated professionally, I am a part of this country, and suddenly I am a suspect because I am Arab or Muslim?”
Moreover, all parties must be aware of the danger of chasing after right-wing populist parties too much. Especially by adopting their anti-Islamic and xenophobic slogans. We are currently being overrun by this right-wing radical wave. This attitude of the frightened rabbit cornered by the snake will not get us anywhere.
Racist party videos like the one on Sylt, a strong increase in anti-Semitism, and anti-Muslim racism clearly show a dangerous trend. It is not as if these racist and anti-Semitic thoughts ever went away. It’s just that for many decades, most people didn’t dare to articulate them. That was worth something, too. This inhibition seems to no longer exist for many people. They now think they can publicly express such slogans. Society must take a firm stand against this so that people are once again ashamed of such actions. It can only succeed if enough citizens from civil society make it clear to them: This far and no further.
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