In four federal states, the police have been carrying out raids on members and supporters of the banned organizations Hamas and Samidoun since early this morning. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, 15 objects were searched.
According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), the police have been carrying out searches on members and supporters of the banned organizations Hamas and Samidoun in four federal states since early this morning. On the orders of the responsible administrative courts in Berlin, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein, a total of 15 properties are being searched.
There are more than 300 police officers on duty in the capital alone. Eleven of the objects searched are in Berlin, said a spokeswoman for the Senate Interior Administration. Seven searches in Berlin concern the Palestinian organization Hamas and four the Samidoun association. These are primarily supporters’ apartments and the rooms of a Palestinian association.
“The full rigor of the rule of law”
“We are continuing our consistent action against radical Islamists,” said Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. “Islamists and anti-Semites cannot and must not feel safe anywhere here.” These “extremists must expect the full rigor of the rule of law.”
On November 2nd, Faeser banned the activities of the terrorist organization Hamas and the international network Samidoun – Palestinian Solidarity Network in Germany. The sub-organization Samidoun Germany was banned and dissolved on that day.
Violations of the Basic Law
According to the ministry, Hamas’ activities in Germany run counter to criminal laws and are directed against the idea of international understanding within the meaning of Article 9, Paragraph 2 of the Basic Law and the Association Act. Samidoun supports the use of violence as a means of asserting political views and supports associations that threaten attacks. The glorification of Hamas’s terror following its terrorist attacks on Israel since October 7, 2023 is particularly serious.
According to the BMI, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution counts Hamas in Germany as having around 450 members. According to current knowledge, their activities range from expressions of sympathy and propaganda activities to financing or fundraising activities.
According to the BMI, the Samidoun association, including its sub-organization such as Samidoun Germany, also operating under the names HIRAK – Palestinian Youth Mobilization Youth Movement and Hirak eV, also fulfilled the legal reasons for the ban.
Michael Götschenberg, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, November 23rd, 2023 7:27 a.m