ARTICLE REVIEW

This article tells about how the Muslim group Fussilet 33 was banned in
Berlin as they were accused of supporting terrorism that hosted religious
lectures and seminars in the working-class Moabit neighborhood and offering a
fresh sign of Germany’s increased efforts to combat Islamist extremists in the
wake of December’s deadly Christmas-market attack. In which they supported
terrorist organizations such as Islamic State and Junud al-Sham by collecting
funds and recruiting people to fight in Syria and Iraq. There’s certain Anis Amri
who happened attacked the market, including on the day he rammed a truck
into a Christmas market. He was a frequent visitor at the group’s mosque. After
learning the Officials in Berlin, which is governed as a city-state, moved quickly
through the arduous legal process of banning the Muslim group.

The authors show how the German authorities face pressure to show
they are aggressively fighting radical Islamism at home. They came under
criticism for failing to stop Mr. Amri in the months before his attack. Moreover,
German security authorities say that Mr. Amri’s case drew attention to radical
Muslim groups which pose an increasing challenge in the fight against violent
Islamist ideology and terrorism but that are hard to ban because of laws
protecting religious groups. Berlin had considered banning Fussilet 33 in 2015
but abandoned the idea for lack of proof. With a conclusion of the city-state’s
senator for domestic affairs, Andreas Geisel said “Inflammatory ideologues
aren’t welcome in Berlin,” “Whoever thinks that they can call for violence or
support others (who do) in our city needs to know: We are watching you, and
we will take care of you the exact same way we’re taking care of the Fussilet 33
association.”

Furthermore, the points made by the author are valid and it does provide the
result after. This article is significant because it shows the real situation in Berlin and
how their City-states reacted and do the action that needed to secure the safety of
their country.
Berlin Bans Muslim Group Accused of
Supporting Terrorism
By RUTH BENDER and ZEKE TURNER
Posted 28 FEB 2017 12:15 p.m. ET
BERLIN—Local authorities on Tuesday
banned a Muslim group accused of
supporting terrorism, offering a fresh sign
of Germany’s increased efforts to combat
Islamist extremists in the wake of
December’s deadly Christmas-market
attack.
Officials in Berlin, which is governed as a
city-state, moved quickly through the
arduous legal process of banning the
Muslim group Fussilet 33 e.V. They did so
after learning that Anis Amri, who attacked
the market, was a frequent visitor at the
group’s mosque, including on the day he
rammed a truck into a Christmas market.
Berlin’s interior ministry said Fussilet 33,
which also hosted religious lectures and
seminars in the working-class Moabit
neighborhood, supported terrorist
organizations such as Islamic State and
Junud al-Sham by collecting funds and
recruiting people to fight in Syria and Iraq.
Representatives from Fussilet 33 couldn't
be reached for comment.
The group and its members “hailed the
armed jihad and religiously motivated
terrorism,” said State Secretary Torsten
Akmann.
German authorities face pressure to show
they are aggressively fighting radical
Islamism at home. They came under
criticism for failing to stop Mr. Amri in the
months before his attack.
Mr. Amri’s case drew attention to radical
Muslim groups that German security
authorities say pose an increasing
challenge in the fight against violent
Islamist ideology and terrorism but that are
hard to ban because of laws protecting
religious groups. Berlin had considered
banning Fussilet 33 in 2015 but abandoned
the idea for lack of proof.
“Inflammatory ideologues aren’t welcome in
Berlin,” said Andreas Geisel, the city-state’s
senator for domestic affairs. “Whoever
thinks that they can call for violence or
support others (who do) in our city needs to
know: We are watching you, and we will
take care of you the exact same way we’re
taking care of the Fussilet 33 association.”
Mr. Amri also had ties to another known
radical group in Germany affiliated with
prominent radical preacher Abu Walaa,
who was arrested last year on suspicion of
recruiting fighters for Islamic State,
prompting intelligence officials to monitor
him. But his connection to Fussilet 33 only
emerged after the attack, sparking calls for
a sharper monitoring of known meeting
spots for radicals.
Berlin’s interior ministry said Tuesday that
prominent Fussilet 33 members have been
convicted or are facing trial for supporting a
foreign terror organization or planning an
attack. Its assets have been seized and the
association is now barred from any activity,
including online or reorganizing under a
new name.
In January, police in Berlin arrested a 24-
year-old known Islamist radical at the
Fussilet 33 mosque. Mr. Geisel said at least
10 high-risk Islamist suspects with
connections to Fussilet 33 are currently
under surveillance.
Hundreds of police officers Tuesday
morning also searched the premises of the
mosque as well as apartments, businesses
and prison cells in Berlin and nearby cities
in connection to the association. Mr. Geisel
said material seized in raids could help
them learn of possible planned attacks.
Investigators say Mr. Amri visited the
Fussilet 33 mosque at least five times last
fall. His final visit was barely an hour
before driving a stolen truck into the crowd
at a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12
and injuring scores.
Bender, Ruth and Turner, Zeke (2017) Berlin
Bans Muslim Group Accused of Supporting
Terrorism. Retrieved 2 March 2017 from
https://www.wsj.com/articles/berlin-bans-
muslim-group-accused-of-supporting-terrorism-
1488302106