Islamist networks in Germany: Who are "Muslim Interactive"

2024-05-13 08:33:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

There were about 1,000 people who protested at the end of April in Hamburg called by the group "Muslim Interactive". During the demonstration, the cries "Caliphate is the solution" and "Germany - dictatorship of values" were heard. Reactions were strong in Germany, even the banning of this group was demanded. On Saturday, there were again protests by this group in Hamburg, but according to the police announcements on Sunday (12.05.), in the rally held with strict rules, there were no violations of them.

Many were surprised by the march of this group. Even the sociologist, Necla Kelek, who leads the association of secular Islam in Hamburg. Together with other associations, she organized a counter-demonstration. "We were also amazed by the Muslim Interactive demonstration," she told D. "First of all, this is an organization that is organized especially through social media, like TikTok. This makes it even more dangerous. You can go to a mosque and get information."

Islamist networks in Germany: Who are "Muslim Interactive"

Sociologist, Necla Kelek

"Muslim Interactive" is followed closely by the German authorities, and is even mentioned in a report by the country's Constitutional Protection Service. Founded in 2020, this group lists itself as close to the Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) organization, which was banned in 2003 because it supported the use of violence and called for the killing of Jews. Among the organizations that are considered branches of HuT are "Generation Islam" and "Realität Islam".

"Safe as extremist"

"Muslim Interactive" is considered by the authorities as "definitely extremist". This is also related to the fact that the group seeks a worldwide caliphate and thus rejects democracy and the constitutional order of the rule of law in Germany. "This is basically a political program, which is being distributed here and even on the basis of Islam and Sharia. This, formulated in a neutral form, is a revolutionary political movement, which requires a fundamental reshaping of the current order, not only in the Islamic world, but all over the world", explains Andreas Jacobs, head of the sector for social unity at the Konrad-Adenauer foundation.

Unlike other Islamist movements, such as the Salafists, in this group the concrete rules of the application of Islam are not primary. "There are less issues related to lifestyle, how a woman can be affected or things like that, are discussed there," emphasizes Andreas Jacobs. For the expert "Muslim Interaktiv" is a group like "identity youth cult", in analogy with right-wing extremist identitarian movements, such as those of "Citizens of the Reich".

Staging on social media

A look at MI's social profile makes it clear: More than 20,000 followers this group has on TikTok. The videos are professionally made, their celebrities stage themselves in a modern way and are eloquent. There are also street polls to create the impression of closeness to the Muslim community. And the messages that this group conveys seem to find supporters. On an online portal of "t-online", a teacher reports anonymously, that the leaders of Muslim Interactive are seen as music stars and his students go to their demonstrations to meet their "idols".

Islamist networks in Germany: Who are "Muslim Interactive"

Often this grouping also affects social debates: such as the persecution of the Uyghurs in China, the burning of the Koran in Sweden, the headscarf debate in Germany. He always presents Muslims as discriminated and excluded. Especially after the terrorist attack of Hamas against Israel, and the beginning of the war in Gaza and protests everywhere in the world. The language used by Muslim Interaktiv and other groups has become very direct now, Navid Wali, a teaching staff member at the non-governmental organization Violence Prevention Network, told DW. "Muslim Interaktiv also uses popular influencers who share their content." without killing their minds and saying with this, you see, we Muslims must now unite, to act against the hostility towards Islam. This is the strategy they use to attract and make others for themselves."

For Wali, "Muslim Interactive" only uses German, short content. The group is aimed at students but also academics, since the goal is not to gain supporters, but popularity.

Islamist networks in Germany: Who are "Muslim Interactive"

Prohibition - yes or no?

From the strategic point of view, it is not so wise that "Muslim Interaktiv" again went out on the streets, provoking new demands for the group's ban, experts Jacobs and Wali think. "But from the legal point of view, this grouping is prepared." In new demonstrations, there should not be extremism, because they want attention, the expert thinks. The way "Muslim Interactive" operates legally makes it difficult to stop. Like other right-wing extremist identity organizations, they know the framework within which they must move. The demand for a caliphate, as long as it is only theoretically expressed, is not prohibited in Germany.

Navid Wali is of the opinion that the ban feeds exactly the narrative of the victim that "Muslim Interactive" will spread. "We should probably then explain to young people that it is not a question of banning Muslim life. It would be better instead of banning, to show young people alternatives to what Muslim life can look like in Germany. ." And the researcher, Andreas Jacobs criticizes that he has little knowledge about the organization and there is still no in-depth study about it./ DW