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| Europe |
| Muslims Alarmed as Germany Plans Islamist Database |
| 2004-07-08 |
| Germany said Thursday it would create a central database on suspected radical Islamists, provoking concern from the country’s large Muslim community. Interior Minister Otto Schily also announced plans to boost the fight against terrorism by pooling intelligence from the three national security agencies in a new joint analysis center. The moves, announced after two days of talks between Schily and interior ministers from the 16 states or ’Laender’, are designed to strengthen Germany’s defenses against terrorism by making its complex security structure work more efficiently. Germany has stepped up its guard against radical Islamists since 2001, when three of the suicide hijackers involved in the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States turned out to be Arab students from Hamburg. Authorities are investigating about 150 cases involving alleged Islamic militants, and have conducted several prominent trials. But a Muslim leader, reacting to news of the database, said innocent Muslims risked falling under suspicion unless the term ’Islamist’ was properly defined. "When you speak about Islamism, you have to clarify what you mean by it. We are concerned that every Muslim could fall under this catch-all term, which is unacceptable," said Nadeem Elyas, chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany. "We’re worried that people may be caught up arbitrarily who have nothing to do with terrorism. By arbitrarily, I mean at the discretion of officials or authorities, which would be a violation of data protection rules." Of course, no such "discretion" is employed by jihadist imams as they advocate wholesale slaughter of innocent Westerners. However, all of us must walk on eggshells for fear of offending Muslim sensibilities. Perish the thought that Islam might become identified with terrorism in general. A spokesman for the federal data protection commissioner said it was important to establish clear rules on who could enter or view data on suspects, and how long entries would be held in the system. Because of its historic experience of Nazi and Communist dictatorship, Germany has strict rules on data protection and on separating the functions of the police and the intelligence services. With its federal structure, it also has more than 30 bodies responsible for security -- a federal crime office and two spy agencies, plus police and domestic intelligence services in every state. To avoid duplication and the risk of vital information falling between the cracks, Schily last month proposed bringing the state services under the direct control of their federal equivalents. But the idea has been vigorously resisted by interior ministers in the 16 Laender. The national police union said it was baffling to ordinary Germans why such questions were still being ponderously thrashed out nearly three years after Sept. 11. "One can only hope that international terrorism will show due consideration for German thoroughness," it said in a statement. Germany was pretty thorough in how they attempted to thwart the liberation of Iraq. Doesn’t that count for something back in Mecca? |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #3 But a Muslim leader, reacting to news of the database, said innocent Muslims risked falling under suspicion unless the term ’Islamist’ was properly defined. Dear Potential Islamist or Terrorist in Germany: ALL Muslims will come under suspicion because some of their brethern (and some sisteren [cistern?]) have been doing some heavy-duty industrial-strength nasty things to other people. Since the boys at Imam City will not clean up their act, some other people in the German government have decided to do it for them at no monetary cost to the Muslim community. The database will be an important start in obtaining near real-time intelligence on these nasties. If you want to be considered an Islamist (should be read as terrorist), perform nasty deeds, or aid and abet them, then you will make the list, with all of its rights and privelages, including detention, jail, deportation, etc., etc. I hope that this answers the question. Have a nice day. Salaam, etc. Al-Aska Paul |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-07-13 9:24:14 PM |
| #2 I'll say null chance, sames goes for the APF which is pro islamisist. I would hope everyone will get a grip. these are people who blow stuff (including citizens ) Make a list check it twice, make sure those that are on it belong on it. No big deal. QED. |
| Posted by: FlameBait93268 2004-07-11 6:25:12 PM |
| #1 And in other news: Germans Alarmed as Muslims Rape and Murder Infidels. What are the chances of this ever becoming a Reuters headline? |
| Posted by: ed 2004-07-08 9:39:51 PM |