On September 11, Islamic groups set fire to the German embassy in Sudan’s capital Khartoum. Four days earlier, on the first Friday in September, radical Muslim imams in Khartoum railed against the infidels in their sermons during prayers. The preachers mentioned the judges of the Berlin administrative court and their ruling that found no “danger to public safety that would necessitate police intervention” in rejecting an injunction to prevent the far-right-wing Islamophobic “Pro Deutschland Citizens’ Movement” from demonstrating in front of mosques in Cologne and three mosques in Berlin, one in the district of Wedding and two in Neukolin, brandishing prints of the controversial Danish cartoons, caricatures of the prophet Muhammad, published in 2005. The Sudanese government has criticized Germany for the ruling allowing the protests to take place, and for the fact that German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented one of the Danish cartoonists with a Press Freedom Award in 2010. [2]
After the attacks in Sudan, the anti-Muslim party, known as “Pro Germany”, allegedly in reaction to protests in Egypt, Libya and Yemen, posted the 14-minute trailer for “Innocence of Muslims”, an incendiary Youtube video insulting the prophet Muhammad that sparked deadly Anti-American mass-riots across the Islamic world, on its website, and announced that it planned to stage a free public screening of what the group said is the 74-minute-long full-length version of the film, produced in the United States, in Berlin later this year, admitting that it had not found a cinema willing to hold the screening. [5]
German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich is convinced that the screening must be stopped, saying he would use “all available legal means” at his disposal to prevent the showing. “This would constitute a political demonstration. Such groups and organizations only want to provoke Germany’s Muslims. They are recklessly pouring oil on the fire. We will exhaust all legal possibilities to stop such a demonstration from happening.” [3]
Aiman Mayzek, the Chairman of the German Central Council of Muslims, also said all legal means should be used to enforce a ban of the movie which was designed to “sow discord and hatred.” [6]
“We shouldn’t fall for those who sow the seeds of confrontation and conflict through violence, extremism, intolerance, and fundamentalism.” Germany’s Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, said. “Those perpetrating the violence in Arab countries represent their people as little as these far-right activists represent Germany.” [3]
“For us, it’s a question of art and freedom of expression.” The Chairman of Pro Deutschland, Manfred Rouhs, defended the move. “Muslim people living in Germany have to accept that critics of their religion will speak out publicly. There should be no other standards for an Islam which allegedly belongs to Germany than for any other religion.” “The video is not worth risking our right to freedom of speech for.” Argues Senior Green Party member parliamentarian Katrin Goring-Eckardt, Vice President of Germany’s Parliament. [6]
Merkel rejected accusations that banning the film’s screening would violate freedom of speech, saying in a press conference that banning the screening would be justifiable because of public safety issues. “We are not intending to ban the film. We are checking if a public screening might disturb the peace and should therefore be prohibited.” [6] Ruprecht Polenz, foreign policy expert for the ruling Christian Democrats, has said the authorities should examine whether the film can be banned under the a law that forbids religious insults, and that Pro Deutschland’s action could endanger Germans abroad. “It is, therefore, absolutely irresponsible.” [1] German criminal law states that anyone who publicly “insults the content of the religious or ideological views in a manner likely to disturb the public order, will be penalized with up to three years’ imprisonment or fined.” [5] “The more one forces this kind of material to become taboo, the more damage it will cause.” Warns Liberal Islamic Federation Chairwoman Lamya Kaddor. [6] Friedrich has also said that it was not a question of banning the film but rather of banning any public screening due to the security risk. [3] “The film is tasteless nonsense but it does not break any laws.” Says Volker Beck, a member of the Green Party the political opposition. [6] German law guarantees freedom of expression but not beyond the point where people feel insulted, Westerwelle said. [3]
The Federal Criminal Police Office believes that there is a good chance that the attack on the German Embassy in Sudan was partly provoked by Pro Deutschland’s protests as well as by the film. Security officials in Germany fear that the violence could spread to Germany as well, warning that even Muslims in Germany could feel called upon to carry out actions against American and Jewish establishments and that Germany should brace for violent actions and even acts of terrorism. They fear a repeat of the clashes between Salafist Muslim radicals and anti-Muslim activists in the Western German cities of Bonn and Solingen when a local far-right group staged a Muhammad cartoon contest in front of a Saudi Arabian school in Bonn. A statement from the Sudanese foreign ministry referred to an “increase in insults to Islam in Western states.” Ralf Jager, Interior Minister of the Western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Bonn and Solingen are located, said: “Pro Deutschland is conducting spiritual arson. By showing the anti-Muslim video, Muslims in Germany will be deliberately provoked.” [2]
Pro Deutschland sought to invite United States pastor Terry Jones, who angered Muslims with threats to burn the Koran in 2010 and has lent his support for the film, and the government issued a ban on Jones entering Germany. [3]
Alexander Hausler, an expert in Right-Wing Populism at the Dusseldorf University of Applied Sciences, says the Pro Germany movement represents a newer strand of ultranationalism capitalizing on German fears of Islamic extremism and anti-Muslim campaigns are a tool of the far right in Germany to appeal to a wider public. “’Freedom Not Islam’ sounds much better for German voters than ‘Kick Out All Foreigners’, but the basis for the criticism of Islam’s alleged democratic deficits is racism.” “A new wave of xenophobia from the heart of society”, persistent joblessness in the East, growing anti-Muslim sentiment since 9/11, and fears that a collapse of the Euro could destroy the German economy have given far-right groups plenty of political talking point, said left-wing lawmaker Kerstin Koeditz, who sits in the state Parliament of Saxony for the Left Party. Experts say far right extremism is a particular threat among disenchanted young people in Germany’s Eastern regions where unemployment is high. “We see the growing danger that the biological basis of our people will wither away because there’s increasing mixing.” Says Holger Apfel, the leader of the National Democratic Party [NPD], Germany’s biggest far-right party. “But you won’t see us calling for the deportation of half-breed children.” Merkel considers the NPD “Anti-democratic, xenophobic, anti-Semitic and therefore also a threat to the Constitution.” But unlike most far-right groups, Pro Germany publicly disavows anti-Semitism. The attempt to appeal to the center has prompted anger in the country’s small but entrenched ultra-right movement. [4]
German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich is convinced that the screening must be stopped, saying he would use “all available legal means” at his disposal to prevent the showing. “This would constitute a political demonstration. Such groups and organizations only want to provoke Germany’s Muslims. They are recklessly pouring oil on the fire. We will exhaust all legal possibilities to stop such a demonstration from happening.” [3]
Aiman Mayzek, the Chairman of the German Central Council of Muslims, also said all legal means should be used to enforce a ban of the movie which was designed to “sow discord and hatred.” [6]
“We shouldn’t fall for those who sow the seeds of confrontation and conflict through violence, extremism, intolerance, and fundamentalism.” Germany’s Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, said. “Those perpetrating the violence in Arab countries represent their people as little as these far-right activists represent Germany.” [3]
“For us, it’s a question of art and freedom of expression.” The Chairman of Pro Deutschland, Manfred Rouhs, defended the move. “Muslim people living in Germany have to accept that critics of their religion will speak out publicly. There should be no other standards for an Islam which allegedly belongs to Germany than for any other religion.” “The video is not worth risking our right to freedom of speech for.” Argues Senior Green Party member parliamentarian Katrin Goring-Eckardt, Vice President of Germany’s Parliament. [6]
Merkel rejected accusations that banning the film’s screening would violate freedom of speech, saying in a press conference that banning the screening would be justifiable because of public safety issues. “We are not intending to ban the film. We are checking if a public screening might disturb the peace and should therefore be prohibited.” [6] Ruprecht Polenz, foreign policy expert for the ruling Christian Democrats, has said the authorities should examine whether the film can be banned under the a law that forbids religious insults, and that Pro Deutschland’s action could endanger Germans abroad. “It is, therefore, absolutely irresponsible.” [1] German criminal law states that anyone who publicly “insults the content of the religious or ideological views in a manner likely to disturb the public order, will be penalized with up to three years’ imprisonment or fined.” [5] “The more one forces this kind of material to become taboo, the more damage it will cause.” Warns Liberal Islamic Federation Chairwoman Lamya Kaddor. [6] Friedrich has also said that it was not a question of banning the film but rather of banning any public screening due to the security risk. [3] “The film is tasteless nonsense but it does not break any laws.” Says Volker Beck, a member of the Green Party the political opposition. [6] German law guarantees freedom of expression but not beyond the point where people feel insulted, Westerwelle said. [3]
The Federal Criminal Police Office believes that there is a good chance that the attack on the German Embassy in Sudan was partly provoked by Pro Deutschland’s protests as well as by the film. Security officials in Germany fear that the violence could spread to Germany as well, warning that even Muslims in Germany could feel called upon to carry out actions against American and Jewish establishments and that Germany should brace for violent actions and even acts of terrorism. They fear a repeat of the clashes between Salafist Muslim radicals and anti-Muslim activists in the Western German cities of Bonn and Solingen when a local far-right group staged a Muhammad cartoon contest in front of a Saudi Arabian school in Bonn. A statement from the Sudanese foreign ministry referred to an “increase in insults to Islam in Western states.” Ralf Jager, Interior Minister of the Western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Bonn and Solingen are located, said: “Pro Deutschland is conducting spiritual arson. By showing the anti-Muslim video, Muslims in Germany will be deliberately provoked.” [2]
Pro Deutschland sought to invite United States pastor Terry Jones, who angered Muslims with threats to burn the Koran in 2010 and has lent his support for the film, and the government issued a ban on Jones entering Germany. [3]
Alexander Hausler, an expert in Right-Wing Populism at the Dusseldorf University of Applied Sciences, says the Pro Germany movement represents a newer strand of ultranationalism capitalizing on German fears of Islamic extremism and anti-Muslim campaigns are a tool of the far right in Germany to appeal to a wider public. “’Freedom Not Islam’ sounds much better for German voters than ‘Kick Out All Foreigners’, but the basis for the criticism of Islam’s alleged democratic deficits is racism.” “A new wave of xenophobia from the heart of society”, persistent joblessness in the East, growing anti-Muslim sentiment since 9/11, and fears that a collapse of the Euro could destroy the German economy have given far-right groups plenty of political talking point, said left-wing lawmaker Kerstin Koeditz, who sits in the state Parliament of Saxony for the Left Party. Experts say far right extremism is a particular threat among disenchanted young people in Germany’s Eastern regions where unemployment is high. “We see the growing danger that the biological basis of our people will wither away because there’s increasing mixing.” Says Holger Apfel, the leader of the National Democratic Party [NPD], Germany’s biggest far-right party. “But you won’t see us calling for the deportation of half-breed children.” Merkel considers the NPD “Anti-democratic, xenophobic, anti-Semitic and therefore also a threat to the Constitution.” But unlike most far-right groups, Pro Germany publicly disavows anti-Semitism. The attempt to appeal to the center has prompted anger in the country’s small but entrenched ultra-right movement. [4]
Bibliography of References Cited:
- Dowling, Siobhan. “Far-Right German Group Plans to Show Anti-Islamic Film.” The Guardian. Sunday, September 16, 2012. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/16/germany-group-anti-islamic-film
- Gude H., Neukirch R., Schmid, F., Stark H. “German Far-Right May Have Sparked Sudan Attack.” Der Spiegel. September 17, 2012. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/berlin-worried-anti-islam-protest-may-have-provoked-embassy-attack-a-856211.html
- Hudson A., Russell R. “German Minister Condemns Far-Right Plan To Show Anti-Islam Film.” Reuters. Tuesday, September 18, 2012. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/18/us-germany-film-idUSBRE88H0ZP20120918
- Jordans, Frank. “Facing Possible Ban German Far-Right Changes Tack.” The Associated Press. September 4, 2012. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/facing-possible-ban-german-far-right-changes-tack
- Khazan, Olga. “German, Canadian Groups Plan Public Screenings of ‘Innocence of Muslims’.” The Washington Post. September 18, 2012. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/german-canadian-groups-plan-public-screenings-of-innocence-of-muslims/2012/09/18/a709959c-01c4-11e2-9367-4e1bafb958db_blog.html
- Steininger, Michael. “To Ban Or Not To Ban? German Right-Wing Group To Show Anti-Islam Film.” The Christian Science Monitor. September 19, 2012. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2012/0919/To-ban-or-not-to-ban-German-right-wing-group-to-show-anti-Islam-film
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