Germans Hear Syrian Chants of Islamist Slogans at Christmas Markets
Certain Islamist slogans, expressed by Syrians at various German Christmas markets in celebration of the overthrow of Bashar Assad, are raising alarm. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
**Analysts suggest the deliberate use of Christian venues for demonstrations is “disrespectful”**
Large crowds of Syrians have been gathering in Christmas markets throughout Germany to celebrate the removal of President Bashar Assad. Online videos depict thousands marching in these festive spaces, waving Syrian flags and chanting slogans such as ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Bashar is gone, Syria is free!’
The situation in Syria worsened dramatically in November when militants from the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham launched an offensive that overwhelmed the regime’s forces, capturing significant cities including Damascus. Following the collapse of Assad’s military, the opposition took control, prompting Assad to flee to Russia where he received political asylum.
Reports from German media indicate that Syrian opposition supporters have been present at Christmas markets across various cities, including Stuttgart, Dresden, Baden-Württemberg, Mannheim, Karlsruhe, and Konstanz. Although the demonstrations have remained peaceful, certain chants have raised concerns among security analysts. For example, the phrase ‘Allahu Akbar,’ which translates to ‘God is Great,’ is a common expression among Muslims but can also be linked to extremist ideologies in specific contexts.
Footage from these gatherings is being reviewed by German police, according to Bild, with officials translating the chants into German to analyze whether they carry extremist messages. Authorities are reportedly worried that these rallies might continue over the weekend and could potentially escalate into violence.
“Together with many Syrians in Germany, we are happy that Assad’s unjust regime has come to an end [but] chanting Islamist slogans is completely unacceptable, especially in the context of a Christmas market,” stated lawmaker Andrea Lindholz. She added, “anyone who flees to a democratic constitutional state but then glorifies Islamism should leave our country.” Extremism expert Ahmad Mansour remarked that “deliberately using Christmas markets for demonstrations is disrespectful and tasteless,” emphasizing that there are alternative ways to celebrate what the demonstrators see as “the end of a tyrant” without creating cultural tensions.
Germany’s federal minister of the interior, Nancy Faeser, has previously cautioned that Christmas markets present an increased security risk, considering they are “ideologically suitable targets for Islamist-motivated” terror attacks.
Approximately 900,000 Syrian nationals currently reside in Germany, according to data from the Interior Ministry and the Federal Employment Agency. The Syrian diaspora in Germany is noted to be the third largest globally, as reported by UNHCR, the UN's refugee organization. However, Berlin announced earlier this week that it would halt the processing of refugee applications from Syrian nationals while assessing the security circumstances in the country—a move that is expected to impact about 47,000 pending applications.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
Large crowds of Syrians have been gathering in Christmas markets throughout Germany to celebrate the removal of President Bashar Assad. Online videos depict thousands marching in these festive spaces, waving Syrian flags and chanting slogans such as ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Bashar is gone, Syria is free!’
The situation in Syria worsened dramatically in November when militants from the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham launched an offensive that overwhelmed the regime’s forces, capturing significant cities including Damascus. Following the collapse of Assad’s military, the opposition took control, prompting Assad to flee to Russia where he received political asylum.
Reports from German media indicate that Syrian opposition supporters have been present at Christmas markets across various cities, including Stuttgart, Dresden, Baden-Württemberg, Mannheim, Karlsruhe, and Konstanz. Although the demonstrations have remained peaceful, certain chants have raised concerns among security analysts. For example, the phrase ‘Allahu Akbar,’ which translates to ‘God is Great,’ is a common expression among Muslims but can also be linked to extremist ideologies in specific contexts.
Footage from these gatherings is being reviewed by German police, according to Bild, with officials translating the chants into German to analyze whether they carry extremist messages. Authorities are reportedly worried that these rallies might continue over the weekend and could potentially escalate into violence.
“Together with many Syrians in Germany, we are happy that Assad’s unjust regime has come to an end [but] chanting Islamist slogans is completely unacceptable, especially in the context of a Christmas market,” stated lawmaker Andrea Lindholz. She added, “anyone who flees to a democratic constitutional state but then glorifies Islamism should leave our country.” Extremism expert Ahmad Mansour remarked that “deliberately using Christmas markets for demonstrations is disrespectful and tasteless,” emphasizing that there are alternative ways to celebrate what the demonstrators see as “the end of a tyrant” without creating cultural tensions.
Germany’s federal minister of the interior, Nancy Faeser, has previously cautioned that Christmas markets present an increased security risk, considering they are “ideologically suitable targets for Islamist-motivated” terror attacks.
Approximately 900,000 Syrian nationals currently reside in Germany, according to data from the Interior Ministry and the Federal Employment Agency. The Syrian diaspora in Germany is noted to be the third largest globally, as reported by UNHCR, the UN's refugee organization. However, Berlin announced earlier this week that it would halt the processing of refugee applications from Syrian nationals while assessing the security circumstances in the country—a move that is expected to impact about 47,000 pending applications.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
