German security officials are expressing growing concerns regarding potential attacks by Arabic-speaking Islamist groups targeting perceived heretics within Germany. Specifically, Syrian Sunni extremists are reportedly threatening Druze, Kurds and Alawite communities, a situation underscored by recent demonstrations in Berlin and Düsseldorf.
Dirk Peglow, chairman of the Federal Association of German Criminal Investigators, told the Tagesspiegel newspaper that Islamists residing in Germany are currently inciting violence against minorities fleeing the Middle East. He stated that the glorification of violence and the instigation of criminal acts pose a serious threat to public safety. “There is concrete concern that public statements from the Islamist spectrum could motivate individuals to commit serious crimes.
These concerns are rooted in the ongoing conflict in the Druze region of southern Syria. Druze forces recently retook Suwaida, following massacres perpetrated by Islamist groups affiliated with the transitional government under President Ahmed al-Scharaa. Following the ousting of the Assad regime last winter, Alawite communities – whose faith the former ruler also adhered to – had previously been targeted.
Ali Toprak, federal chairman of the Kurdish Community of Germany, commented on the situation, stating that it is unsurprising for minorities originating from the Middle East to witness Syrian Islamists acting out on German streets. He drew parallels to incidents that occurred since 2015, when Islamist groups attacked individuals perceived as non-believers in asylum accommodations.
“Those who have fled persecution must not fear for their lives in Germany” Toprak emphasized. “Anyone who becomes a perpetrator here forfeits their right to asylum”. He urged German authorities to rigorously enforce the rules of the free legal state, asserting that German asylum law is intended for those facing political and religious persecution, not their persecutors and murderers.