Liberals and Radical Muslims Both Punish Those Who Think Differently

While in Germany, people who express opinions on social media that differ from the mainstream are being punished, the same can be observed within Muslim communities, where those who think differently are punished for their views and actions.

English NAGYVILÁG 2025. JÚLIUS 13. 16:18

A German liberal politician has sharply criticised the last-minute court approval of an Islamist protest in Berlin. Wolfgang Kubicki, vice chairman of the Free Democratic Party of Germany (FDP), condemned the country’s double standards regarding freedom of speech. He especially highlighted the fact that while Jews are threatened at such demonstrations, police are launching raids against Germans for „hate speech and incitement” online.

Just a week and a half after the national day of action against ‘hate and incitement’, another Islamist protest took place in Berlin over the weekend, where participants chanted ‘Death to Jews’ and demanded the creation of a caliphate,”

Kubicki wrote on his social media page. The politician is known in Germany as a staunch advocate for free speech, as highlighted by the news outlet RMX News. Kubicki highlighted:

„A state that shows its power over online insults directed at politicians but is unable or unwilling to act against growing antisemitism in the streets has lost its moral compass. These events are a clear sign of a completely failed migration and integration policy. If we continue to shrug off the rise of such totalitarian and inhumane groups, the liberal foundations of our republic will collapse.”

Kubicki was referring to the „day of action” during which police raided the homes of 170 citizens over allegations of „hate speech” and „insults” directed at politicians. He described the house raids as an extreme overreach of state power and one of the most brutal invasions of privacy.

In an interview, the politician told the news portal GMX that society must tolerate even absurd or condemnable opinions, arguing that adults are capable of deciding for themselves what is right and wrong, and the state should not dictate this. „And we must stop excluding certain groups or individuals just because we do not like their opinions,” he emphasized.

Raids for ‘Inappropriate’ Opinions

German police carried out raids at 170 locations over social media posts. One of those affected was Stefan Niehoff, a 64-year-old retiree, whose home was searched because he shared a meme calling then-Economy Minister Robert Habeck a “professional moron.” He was eventually fined 825 euros.

A right-wing journalist, David Bendels, was sentenced to seven months’ probation for mocking former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser,

the portal The European Conservative listed the shocking cases.

Islamist Extremists May Protest, While Expressing Opinions Is Not Allowed

Against this backdrop, many were outraged that an Islamist extremist protest was allowed to proceed. According to German daily Welt, police in Berlin ultimately dispersed the protest early due to the chanting of banned slogans and resistance to police orders — yet shocking scenes still unfolded.

Among the protesters were supporters of the caliphate, with men and women being separated. The demonstrators called on the Egyptian government to take action against Israel in Gaza. The protest, held in front of Egypt’s embassy, was organised by Ahmad Tamim, a YouTuber known for Islamist views.

Black-and-white shahada flags were on display, and chants of “Death to Jews” and “Death to the IDF” could be heard.

Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) classifies Tamim as an Islamist figure connected to the group “Generation Islam,” which is affiliated with the international organisation “Hizb ut-Tahrir,” known for aiming to re-establish the caliphate. Hizb ut-Tahrir is a banned extremist group in Germany, classified as such by the interior ministry.

„The Islamists are once again marching through the streets of Berlin under the protection of the very democracy they so deeply despise,”

wrote Ahmad Mansour, a critic of Islamism, on X, highlighting:

”They demand a caliphate, dream of a theocracy – a political Islam that the majority of Muslims, both here and in the Middle East, do not want.”

Muslims Also Exclude Those Who Think Differently

However, it is not only in Western liberal societies where dissenting opinions are suppressed, the same happens within Muslim communities in Western Europe. This week, an imam in the Netherlands was suspended from his mosque after visiting Israeli President Isaac Herzog as part of a delegation of European Muslim leaders.

Youssef Msibih, imam of the Bilal Mosque in Alkmaar, was one of 15 preachers who travelled to Jerusalem on Monday to meet Herzog. On Tuesday, the mosque announced that Msibih had been “suspended with immediate effect” and stated that they currently have “no ties with him.” The mosque claimed it had no prior knowledge of the visit and publicly distanced itself from Msibih, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported.

In its statement, the mosque condemned the imam’s decision to participate in the visit, saying: ”His decision to allow himself to be used to normalise a regime that sheds Palestinian blood daily is not only wrong but a moral disgrace. While children are being pulled from the rubble, he chose to join a propaganda campaign.

The visit was organised by ELNET (European Leadership Network), which aims to strengthen ties between Europe and Israel. President Herzog described the visit as significant, referred to the delegation members as “children of Abraham,” and praised their presence as an act of courage. He said:

„Through your visit and courageous action, you represent the majority across the Middle East and the world who seek peaceful coexistence.”

The delegation was led by French imam Hassen Chalghoumi, a prominent critic of Hamas and Islamist extremism. He told Herzog:

„What we have seen since October 7 is not just a conflict between Israel and Hamas, or Israel and Hezbollah — the ‘Party of Satan’ — but a confrontation between two fundamentally different worlds. You represent the world of brotherhood, humanity, and compassion. You represent the values of democracy and freedom.”

Chalghoumi has repeatedly condemned antisemitism and declared that Muslims and Jews must work together for peace. He has previously participated in demonstrations in France against Hamas and Islamist radicalism.

English NAGYVILÁG

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