Germany’s vice-chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, has called for Salafist mosques to be banned and their preachers “expelled” following the Berlin terror attack.
The leader of the Social Democrats said those who “encourage violence” do not “enjoy the protection of religious freedom”, stressing he had a “zero tolerance” attitude towards combating Islamism.
The country is on edge following a terror attack where Amis Amri ploughed a lorry in a Berlin Christmas market killing 12 people last month and a year of attempted “lone wolf” attacks.
Salafism, an ultra-conservative branch of Sunni Islam.
Mr Gabriel told German weekly Der Spiegel that half the followers of Isis who travel to Syria are German, often with German parents.
He said: “Salafist mosques must be banned, communities dissolved, and the preachers should be expelled as soon as possible.
“If we are serious about the fight against Islamism and terrorism, then it must also be a cultural fight.” [The Independent] Read more
