Joint Press Statement against Islamism

The Islamist terrorist attack on Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) has shown in the most harrowing way: Islamism concerns us all. Our deepest sympathy goes to the woman who was killed, to those injured, to their families and to the LGBTQI* community. Islamism is not a problem that arises outside our society. It is part of its reality – and must be treated as such.

While this realisation has taken hold with regard to right-wing extremism, Islamism is still regarded as a fringe phenomenon or an imported problem. Yet when German citizens too commit Islamist acts of violence, it becomes clear that radicalisation happens within our society, in our cities, in our religious and cultural communities, and in our digital spaces.

It is precisely for this reason that the debate on Islamism must no longer be externalised. The problem cannot be attributed to particular social groups, nor can the solution be left to the security authorities alone.

The perpetrator of the CSD attack saw himself as acting on behalf of Islam – Muslim congregations and religious communities, too, must face the challenge of how Islamism can be combated effectively. In doing so, they can count on our support. The majority of Muslims in Germany reject Islamism – which makes it all the more important to confront Islamist ideologies resolutely within their own community and to reject the instrumentalisation of religion together, in word and deed. That is what it means to be part of society.

Yet responsibility does not end there. Schools, universities, social work, youth work, religious communities, politics, the security authorities, the judiciary, the media and civil society share a joint responsibility to recognise radicalisation of every kind at an early stage, to strengthen democratic values and to deprive extremist ideologies of fertile ground.

The fight against Islamism begins with prevention. It requires consistent criminal prosecution and effective sanctions. And it demands an open public debate that neither plays the problem down nor resorts to sweeping generalisations.

Criticising Islamism does not mean placing Muslims under general suspicion. On the contrary: worldwide they are among the most frequent victims of Islamist violence, and in Germany they are among the first targets of intimidation and of religious claims to absolute authority.

Those who fail to name Islamism clearly for fear of being accused of hostility towards Islam leave the subject to those who defame Muslims indiscriminately. Those who, conversely, discredit any criticism of Islamism as “anti-Muslim racism” hamper the democratic struggle against a misanthropic ideology.

The fight against Islamism is neither right-wing nor left-wing. It is a task for the democratic centre. And it is an opportunity: a society that resolutely pushes back Islamist ideologies simultaneously strengthens freedom, equality, the rights of LGBTQI* people, Jewish life, freedom of religion and the safety of all.

You, too, can support the joint press statement here: