Germany bans 'The True Religion' Salafist group

BERLIN

Germany has banned a major Salafist group on charges of violating the constitution and for allegedly radicalizing young people.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told a press conference in Berlin “The True Religion” group, also known as the “Lies Foundation”, had been banned Tuesday by his decision.

“This group was disseminating hate messages, anti-constitutional ideologies and radicalizing young people with conspiracy theories,” de Maiziere said, referring to the group’s campaign of distributing translated copies of Quran on the streets.

“So far, more than 140 young people travelled to Syria and Iraq to join terrorist groups fighting there, after they were influenced by this group’s campaigns,” he added.

German police raided more than 190 addresses across the country Tuesday and confiscated various documents, materials and equipment used by the group.

De Maiziere said Tuesday’s ban was not directed against the freedom of religion.

“Today’s ban is not targeting the promotion of Islamic belief or disseminating it. This is also not a measure against the distribution of copies of Quran, or its translations,” he said.

“We are acting against the abuse of religion by persons, who are propagating their extremist ideologies and supporting terrorist organizations under the guise of promoting Islam,” he added.

The banned “The True Religion” group was among the most active Salafist groups in Germany, with several hundreds of members.

According to the German domestic intelligence agency, BfV, “about 9,200 Salafists” are active in Germany.

German security organizations estimate about 870 Germans, mostly young immigrants from Salafist groups, have travelled to Syria and joined Daesh terrorist group since the beginning of the civil war.

Salafists are a very small minority among Germany’s four million-strong Muslim community.