Islamist chants at Stuttgart Christmas market spark concern
Instead of traditional Christmas carols, at the Christmas market in Stuttgart, Germany, the shout of "Allahu Akbar" was heard, reports Bild. Syrians were celebrating the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in this manner.
At the Christmas market in Stuttgart, instead of traditional carols, Islamist chants were heard. This past weekend, thousands of Syrians celebrated the defeat of President Bashar al-Assad there. Security experts are concerned that similar events may occur at other markets in Germany.
According to recordings on social media, young men chanted "Allahu Akbar." The police in Stuttgart confirmed a demonstration with 3,000-5,000 participants. The recordings are being analysed, and the chants are being translated and assessed by authorities.
Along with Syrians in Germany, we are pleased that Assad's unjust regime has ended. Celebrating this is fine. However, chanting Islamist slogans is completely unacceptable, especially in the atmosphere of a Christmas market. Anyone who flees to a democratic constitutional state and then glorifies Islamism should leave our country, quotes Bild, citing parliament member Andrea Lindholz from the CSU party.
The German newspaper also quotes extremism expert Ahmad Mansour, a psychologist of Arab-Palestinian origin living in Germany. "Consciously using Christmas markets for demonstrations is disrespectful and in bad taste. There are other ways to celebrate the end of a tyrant without fuelling cultural tensions," he stated.
According to Bild, Germany remains directly within the range of targets of various terrorist organisations, especially the Islamic State. At Christmas markets, there is a ban on selling knives.
After 13 years of civil war in Syria, rebels have overthrown ruler Bashar al-Assad and taken control of the capital, Damascus. The tyrant is said to have found refuge in Russia.
