The half-yearly information from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution 2019!
When presenting the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution information for the first half of 2019, Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said that digital mass media in particular, in which some posts are liked all too quickly, contribute significantly to the spread of extremist messages: "Hate and agitation in society are increasing." The minister identifies various strategies for the spread of extremist ideologies.
While right-wing extremists often no longer convey their messages as crude slogans, but rather with new neologisms, the left-wing extremist scene would reinterpret democratic values in their own way. The Islamists, on the other hand, constructed a contrast between a majority society and members of the Muslim faith.
Right-wing extremists hide extremist ideology
Herrmann outlined the diverse challenges that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is currently facing. Right-wing extremists hide their extremist ideology behind seemingly harmless new word creations:
“Instead of chanting 'foreigners out', they are now talking about 'remigration' or 'ethnopluralism',” said the minister. “At its core, there is nothing other than the idea that all people with a migration background should leave Germany, regardless of nationality or residence status. This creeping poisoning of communication is intended to blur the clear distinction between democratic and right-wing extremist positions.”
Specifically, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been monitoring the youth organization of the AfD Junge Alternative and the rallying movement within the AfD “Der Wing” since the beginning of this year. Both groups would postulate an ethnically and culturally homogeneous concept of the people, which is in stark contrast to the human rights of our Basic Law. The Identitarian Movement in Bavaria is also trying to use such terms to turn the mood in the population against the acceptance of refugees and migrants and against the “established old parties”.
Left-wing extremist agitation
The focus of left-wing extremist agitation has always been the topics of anti-fascism and anti-racism. Interior Minister Herrmann also notes that left-wing extremists repeatedly take part in civic initiative events. For example, in the discussion about rent prices in urban centers under the keyword “anti-gentrification” they tried to find starting points for anchoring their ideology as well as in the current topics of the environment and climate protection. Herrmann: “Left-wing extremists always defame the state and the system as the main culprits for actual or alleged undesirable developments.” The left-wing extremists’ patent solution is always the same, namely the elimination of the rule of law and democracy.
Arrest of several Islamists
According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the arrests of several Islamists in North Rhine-Westphalia in mid-July make it clear that terrorist activities must be expected at any time in Germany and also in Bavaria. The security authorities continue to pay particular attention to returnees from former combat areas. By the end of June, the German security authorities had information on more than 1,050 people who had left Germany for the Middle East. 29 of the 114 people who left Bavaria have returned to Germany - 22 to Bavaria, five returnees are currently in custody.
With a view to the further development of the IS support scene, Herrmann warned in particular about the role of women, who have increasingly come into the focus of the security authorities.
“While in the past only the traditional role of women as mother, wife and supporter of the husband was emphasized, women are currently also stepping up with organizational activities and providing logistical support.” Herrmann: “Women's contribution to the stabilization and further development of the IS scene is allowed should not be underestimated.”
Personnel potential among Reich citizens has fallen
For the first time since the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution began monitoring, the potential number of Reich citizens has fallen. While there were around 4,200 people in the scene at the end of 2018, by mid-2019 there were only 3,950 people. Herrmann sees this as a success of the consistent Bavarian line of zero tolerance towards Reich citizens and, in particular, the consistent disarmament of the scene.
The secret services of Russia, China and Iran carry out the most cyber attacks on Bavaria!
Increasing cyberattacks
Herrmann described the increasing cyberattacks as a serious attack on our society and its foundations. Espionage activities from so-called APT groups were again recorded in the first half of 2019. In contrast to “normal” cybercriminals, APT groups attack their targets not just once, but over the long term. Typically, these groups are directed or supported by governments. As in previous years, APT groups from Russia, China and Iran are mainly active. Targets include government institutions, companies, high and cutting-edge technology, but also opposition members who have sought refuge in Germany. In the first half of the year alone, the Cyberallianz Center in Bavaria became active in 50 cases in which there was suspicion of an intelligence-controlled attack.
Source: Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Notes:
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