Germany has
banned the extremist group "Islamic State," whose fighters have
seized substantial amounts of territory in northern Iraq and Syria. The
interior minister described the group as a threat "also for Germany."
Interior
Minister Thomas de Maiziere used a press conference in Berlin on Friday to
announce the measure, saying the ban was immediately in effect.
"The
terror organization "Islamic State" is a threat, also for public
security in Germany," de Maiziere said. "We are resolutely
confronting this threat."
De Maiziere
said the ban applied to any activities linked to the self-proclaimed
"IS," including taking part in demonstrations or supporting the group
through social media. It also included the wearing or display of IS symbols or
collecting donations in the group's name.
"Today's
ban is an important step in the battle against international terrorism,"
de Maiziere said.
The
interior minister said that German intelligence agencies believed that around
400 sympathizers of the IS had left the country and that some of these had
returned to Germany.
"We
must prevent radical Islamists from bringing their jihad to our streets,"
de Maiziere said.
Asked by a
reporter whether the ban would make Germany safer than without it, the interior
minister conceded that it wasn't yet clear what effect it would have on
domestic security. However, he also said this was not an argument against
implementing the ban.
Just hours
before de Maiziere announced the German ban, French President Francois Hollande arrived in Baghdad for a one-day visit in which he was expected to discuss the
possiblity of France joining US-led air strikes on IS fighters in northern
Iraq.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.