Muslim Brotherhood Attempts to Influence the Berlin Elections as the Ruling Party Intervenes
Alleged desperate attempts by Muslim Brotherhood-linked networks to influence elections in the German capital, Berlin, are being met with strong opposition from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the country’s ruling party.
The Berlin branch of the CDU is boycotting, in the coming days, electoral forums bringing together several prominent candidates in the elections for the state parliament, which are being held at the controversial association known as the Neuköllner Begegnungsstätte.
Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, the Left Party, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) have decided to take part.
The body known as the « Berlin Council of Imams » and the Neuköllner Begegnungsstätte Council invited candidates to two electoral meetings. The first is scheduled for Friday, August 28, under the slogan « Dialogue in Berlin », while the second is set for Sunday, August 30, under the slogan « Dialogue in Neukölln ».
The invitation confirms the participation of the major political parties, with the exception of the CDU, Germany’s ruling party.
« Condemnation and denunciation »
Christopher Forster, the CDU’s direct candidate in Neukölln, told Focus Online: « Neither our lead candidate, Stefan Evers, nor I will take part in this forum. »
He added: « The Social Democratic Party, the Left Party, and the Greens are conducting their election campaigns there alongside supporters of political Islam. »
The « Berlin Council of Imams » is an informal group comprising twenty imams from different associations. According to the account presented, some of its members had been monitored for an extended period by Berlin’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the domestic intelligence service, because of their alleged proximity to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Forster therefore said: « We do not want to give these people greater prominence by participating in a public forum. »
He further stated: « Democracy cannot be discussed with supporters of political Islam. Like other extremists, they cannot be partners in democratic processes and debates. »
He added: « On the contrary, they must be confronted wherever they are found. »
The party wrote: « The CDU in Neukölln, a district of Berlin, condemns the participation of democratic parties in two electoral events organized by the Neuköllner Begegnungsstätte (NBS), which is alleged to adhere to Muslim Brotherhood ideology. »
« Unbelievable naivety »
A second event is scheduled to take place next Sunday at the controversial mosque association, bringing together Neukölln candidates for the state parliament.
The CDU will not attend the second session either. Forster described the participation of candidates from parties such as the SPD and the Greens in the discussion as « unbelievably naïve and dangerous ». He called on the other parties to refrain from attending the second event.
According to observers, Muslim Brotherhood-linked networks are allegedly seeking, through these electoral events, to influence the course of the Berlin state elections scheduled for September 20. However, the CDU’s position represents a significant setback for these efforts.
