Berlin, a city bursting with freedom and inspiration, never fails to offer something new. On this trip, I was struck by the strong support shown by the German Left and the Antifascist Movement for the Kurdish fight against ISIS.
They recognize, as many should, that ISIS and radical Islam represent a dangerous and destructive fascist force, demanding opposition from anyone with common sense. This support for the Kurdish resistance was evident throughout Kreuzberg in the form of posters and stickers:
Poster of a fundraising party
End the criminalization of PKK
Poster
Sticker
Beatiful t-shirt with the word “Resistence” in Kurdish.
Disturbingly, some of these signs of solidarity had been vandalized. It seems there have been clashes between Kurds and a disturbing alliance of Islamists and Turkish right-wing extremists. Information has been scarce, but I’ve heard reports of these confrontations happening in other German cities as well, with particularly serious incidents taking place in Hamburg.
While I once believed that Germany had less of an issue with Islamic fundamentalism compared to England, it’s clear that they face their own challenges. The existence of a known salafist mosque in Hamburg raises concerns. Why haven’t authorities shut down such a breeding ground for hatred? Political correctness and a distorted sense of tolerance seem to be paralyzing effective action. If the government fails to address this, responsible citizens may need to take a stand, just as they have against racism, xenophobia, and homophobia. There can be no tolerance for religious extremism.
Beyond the calls for Kurdish support, I was reminded of another ongoing injustice: the imprisonment of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
