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«Racism is a poison. Hatred is a poison and this poison exists in our society, and is at fault for far too many crimes», German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday, referring to the far-right terror attack that targeted two shisha bars, Wednesday, in Hanau, Germany.
«We will work against those who try to divide us in Germany with all possible strength and decisiveness», Merkel said in a brief statement, Thursday, vowing to defeat racism.
Merkel’s statement comes after a far-right extremist killed nine people. The man was found dead in his apartment alongside the body of his mother. He left behind a manifesto in which he called for the «extermination of several countries in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia».
The attack has been dubbed disturbing by the Muslim community in Germany, especially as it followed the dismantling of a rightwing extremist group that is believed to have been plotting attacks on mosques in the country.
«It is an attack on our culture and our country Germany. These criminal and terrorist attacks which target innocent people who have committed no crime other than the fact that they are foreigners and perhaps Muslims in the eyes of terrorism», Abdessamad El Yazidi, secretary general of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany told Yabiladi on Thursday.
Germany’s Muslims call for more protection
«We strongly denounce the attack and our prayers go to the victims of this terrorist act and their families», he added. El Yazidi announced that he is expected to meet the German Interior Minister and the German President who is visiting Hanau.
«Muslims and those who are called ‘foreigners’ by extremists are part of this nation and this society. Officials, politicians, the government and institutions must protect and support them in the face of violence and terrorism».
«Muslims and Moroccans in Germany feel threatened and concerned by this rapid transformation» in the German society, he said, adding that «[the attack] is worrying».
Abdessamad El Yazidi also regrets the fact that «the sympathy of politicians and other components of the German society after these terrorist attacks and threats was not there».
Friday sermons translated into German and marches to denounce terrorism
For his part, Mohammed Assila, a Moroccan activist and a member of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany denounced the Hanau attack. «We expected this to happen», he regretted.
«We are disappointed that this has not been denounced by the media and the political scene as an act inspired by hate speech and as a terrorist act which targets Muslims and foreigners in Germany», he explained.
To the Moroccan-German, «this terrorist act has touched all those who believe in humanity». «Denouncing the terror act is not a voluntary act but a must», Assila added.
He also believes that there is a need for «thinking of a solution and a strategy to combat terrorism». «We have to come together and develop a vision», he argued.
Assila said that on Friday, all Friday sermons will be translated into German «to denounce the attacks and tackle terrorism in all its forms». «We also plan to hit the streets and gather alongside political parties to denounce what happened», Assila concluded.
