German Chancellor: Islamist terrorism not the fault of asylum-seekers

Reuters reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that Germany has had problems with Islamist terrorism for many years. The arrival of refugees in the country is not related to its current problem with such extremists.
Merkel made the remarks during a campaign rally for her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in the northern town of Neustrelitz. She also said Islam has a place in Germany as long as those professing the faith do so in accordance with the Constitution.
The Chancellor did, however, admit that efforts do exist to win over asylum-seekers to the Islamists' cause. "The phenomenon of Islamist terrorism and Islamic State is not one that arrived with the refugees, though," she said.
In Merkel's view, the so-called Islamic State has been causing Germany problems for many years, and this was apparent even prior to last year's migration crisis. Four bloody attacks were committed last month in Germany, two of which detectives say were motivated by Islamist terrorism.
In one case, a 17-year-old Afghan attacked five people on a train to Würzburg using an ax and a knife before police shot him dead. In another case, a rejected asylum-seeker detonated a backpack full of explosives in the Bavarian town of Ansbach, killing himself and injuring nine other people.
The Chancellor also said she rejects the anti-Muslim atmosphere that has gained strength in German society as a consequence of the migration crisis. She said the populist Alternative for Germany party has been abetting that change.
"We have clearly said that when Islam is experienced on the basis of the Constitution, then it has a place in Germany," Merkel said. There is no room in Germany, however, for forms of Islam that reject the Constitution and deny the equality of men and women, according to the Chancellor.
Don't miss:
- German Vice-Chancellor and Social Democratic chair gives neo-Nazis the finger
- German domestic intelligence service concerned ultra-right groups might form
- Most Iraqi refugees first brought to the Czech Republic have received church asylum in Germany
- Europe: Anti-refugee initiatives spreading lies about German justice system after Munich shooting
- German Chancellor still believes her country can handle the impacts of attacks and immigration
- German Police in Lower Saxony raid Islamist radicals
- German Police say Munich shooter was an ultra-right supporter proud of sharing a birthdate with Hitler
- German Police: Aggressor in Munich attack inspired by right-wing extremist Breivik, not Islamism
- An 18-year-old man with dual German-Iranian citizenship has shot nine people dead, injured 21 in Munich
- Germany: Merkel's popularity rising, anti-refugee populists losing favor
- Germany: Number of refugees arriving has significantly fallen
- Germany: Untraditional theater production in Berlin plays with anti-migrant prejudice
- Germany: Immigrants do not commit more crime than anybody else
- Germany: British neo-Nazis tweet photo of themselves giving the Nazi salute at Buchenwald
Related articles:
- USA: Holocaust deniers, neo-Nazis, QAnon followers and racist supporters of white supremacy attacked Congress to support Trump
- USA: Extremist supporters of Trump attack Capitol building, disrupt joint session of Congress, four dead, media and world leaders call it an attack on democracy
- German court sentences terrorist who attacked Halle synagogue last year to life in prison
- German counter-intelligence head says right-wing extremism and terrorism are the country's biggest threat
- Czech court hands down suspended three-year sentence to man who praised the terrorism in Christchurch, prosecutor appeals
- Czech man prosecuted for expressing support for Norwegian terrorist refuses to testify in court
- "Czechs Are Helping" initiative to hold benefit Romani music concert to raise money for children in Greek refugee camps
- Czech Interior Ministry: Hate speech increased in intensity last year
- German shooting spree is being investigated as a terrorist attack
- Czech PM will not personally fund Syrian orphanage, claims he is donating to existing ones instead
- Italian court upholds acquittal and exoneration of captain who rescued migrants
- Czech lower house will not discuss accepting unaccompanied minor refugees - ANO, Communists, SocDems and ultra-nationalists opposed it
Tags:
Angela Merkel, Islám, Islamismus, refugee, terrorismHEADLINE NEWS
