Extremism expert Ahmad Mansour has strongly criticized the left-wing party in Berlin, pointing to a deep-rooted structural problem involving antisemitism. He accuses the party of disparaging the police and trivializing the issue of extremism.
Speaking on Welt TV on Monday, Mansour described the situation as “simply madness.” He argued that the Berlin police force has been overwhelmed since October 7th, suffering from the city’s economic struggles, and is severely under-resourced and faces a lack of youth recruits. However, he strongly objected to the framing of the problem, asserting that instead of focusing on the clans, criminals, Islamists, or far-left extremists-the groups struggling to maintain security on a daily basis-the blame is being placed on the police themselves.
Mansour further warned that the left’s handling of police matters, clan crime, antisemitism, and deportations could jeopardize the future of all liberals in Berlin. He highlighted the structural nature of the problem, noting that accusations against institutions and the police are not new, and sometimes originate from the leadership of the left itself. He pointed out that every police raid or effort to deal with clan crime is often being characterized as police brutality.
Furthermore, he criticized the way the party is addressing antisemitism, specifically mentioning the rejection of the IHRA definition and the positions of top candidates who state that any deportation is excessive. Mansour cautioned that this stance must be carefully considered: it implies that Islamists and antisemites should not only be allowed to stay but would, in five years, be granted citizenship. He concluded by warning that in the coming five years, realities and facts will be created that make Berlin irreversible.
