Courting the Fringe: Berlin’s Political Class Seeks Salvation in Neukölln

When election season arrives in Berlin, political principles tend to acquire a remarkable elasticity. Mainstream party leaders recently lined up to participate in a panel debate organized by the Council of Berlin Imams at the Neuköllner Begegnungsstätte. For years, this mosque association sat comfortably in the sights of intelligence agencies, but today it serves as a stop on the campaign trail for representatives of the Greens, the SPD, the FDP, and the Left Party.

The contrast in political appetite was stark. The Alternative for Germany was excluded entirely, while the Christian Democrats opted to stay away. The CDU candidate Evers remarked that with Islamists, one does not discuss democracy.

Yet the remaining political field rushed to fill the seats. FDP General Secretary Peter Langer mocked the CDU for getting cold feet when facing questionable organizations. Greens candidate Bettina Jarasch went further, insisting that anyone serious about combating radicalization requires Muslim partners, pointing out that the association has not appeared in intelligence reports since 2018.

That omission comes with a history. Founded in 2007, the Neuköllner Begegnungsstätte was classified in official 2015 reports as part of the legalist Islamist environment linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, a network seeking to extend social influence through ties to politicians and local projects. The association has previously hosted preachers such as Saudi scholar Mohammed al-Arifi, who publicly praised violent jihad in 2012. Although the association successfully sued to stop its inclusion in official reports, courts did not rule out future surveillance.

What makes this political courting particularly striking is the flow of public resources. State support for the association has expanded significantly over the years. In 2016, the group received a modest 1,120 euros of taxpayer money for a voter turnout initiative. By 2023, the Senate Department for Culture had allocated more than 142,500 euros in tax funding to the organization for various projects, followed by over 106,000 euros in 2024.

The political establishment remains largely untroubled by this financial and ideological backdrop. Representatives from the Left Party expressed delight at entering dialogue about the city's future, while SPD candidate Steffen Krach branded the CDU irresponsible for skipping a forum hosted by a Muslim kindergarten director. Meanwhile, the Council of Berlin Imams declared that Muslim perspectives belong in the political debate. As public funds flow and political leaders compete for approval, the establishment seems all too eager to confuse integration with accommodation.

Written by Thomas Nussbaumer thomas.nussbaumer@alpineweekly.com