Following the terrorist attack on the Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin, Marc Henrichmann, the Chairman of the parliamentary intelligence oversight committee of the Bundestag (CDU), has called for a tougher stance against Islamists. Henrichmann told the “Handelsblatt” that “the declaration of war on our liberal democracy cannot be met with white gloves.” He stressed that when there is a concrete, known, and significant threat to public safety from individuals, the protection of life must be the “highest priority.”
He argued that the civil liberties of known extremists and Islamists must not be prioritized at any governmental or administrative level when human lives are at risk. Henrichmann asserted that a resolute course of action against potential threats is essential, stating, “The Prussian Pickelhaube must be put away. We must get ahead of the wave,” noting that large public events are currently a focus for Islamist threats.
Alexander Throm, the Union parliamentary spokesman for internal affairs, called for a similar hardening of policy. Speaking to the “Handelsblatt,” he stated that “this terrible act warns all those in the judiciary and security agencies to take the danger of Islamism even more seriously.” Throm described Islamism as “extreme fanaticism with a high potential for violence against people in the Western world.” Consequently, he insisted that “no leniency should be given to individuals who adhere to this ideology,” emphasizing that this must be reflected consistently in “prisons, security detention, and deportations.” He concluded by asserting that “it must be the rule: favor the population’s safety in doubt.”
Henrichmann also referenced the proposed reform of intelligence legislation, which aims to grant better and more contemporary powers to authorities. He listed crucial aspects of this reform, including seamless data exchange among security agencies, advanced data analysis capabilities, and adequate data storage. Furthermore, intelligence gathered on terrorist threats must be analyzed over extended periods to better identify underlying networks.
