Commission tasked with presenting findings on rule enforcement progress.
Saxony-Anhalt Under the Gazes of Jihadist Actors Amid Rising Islamist Threat in Germany
Germany has observed a resurgence of violent Islamism, with several attacks in cities including Mannheim, Solingen, Munich, and Bielefeld. The threat of Islamist terrorism remains high, and Saxony-Anhalt is also among the regions eyeing by jihadist actors. Thanks to the vigilance of the constitutional protection office and swift police intervention, several suspects have been arrested in recent years, foiling planned attacks.
The primary threat is posed by the Islamic State (IS), which seeks to recruit radicalized individuals through social media and guide them to conduct attacks or serve as models for willing participants without direct contact. IS propaganda often exploits the Middle East conflict to mobilize its core followers and promote the so-called "struggle of the Palestinians" as a "cause for all Muslims" within the broader population.
Interior Minister Dr. Tamara Zieschang acknowledged the threat, stating that the ministry takes internal security threats from Islamism seriously. Since the Hamas organization's terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023, the ministry has observed a significant shift in dynamics between various Islamic currents in Saxony-Anhalt. The ministry also sees alliance formations between Islamists and other actors previously unrelated to Islamism.
mi.sachsen-anhalt.de/verfassungsschutz/publikationen (Brochure_Islamism_in_ST_2025.pdf)
The challenge for the constitutional protection office lies in the increasing influence of Islamist online propaganda on young people. According to the head of the office, Jochen Hollmann, the internet has become the primary driver of radicalization among the youth. The office is adapting its resources to confront new forms and media of Islamic influence.
In addition to monitoring Islamist activities, prevention is also part of the legal tasks of the Saxony-Anhalt constitutional protection office. They achieve this through educational and public relations work, helping multipliers across various sectors to recognize Islamist behaviors. Collected findings and recommendations for action are available as guidelines on the constitutional protection office's website at mi.sachsen-anhalt.de/verfassungsschutz.
In a recent publication, the Saxony-Anhalt Office for the Protection of the Constitution compared the unique aspects of Islamist scenes in Saxony-Anhalt and other eastern German states to the development of Islamist structures in western German states. The publication delves into the specific challenges faced by preventing Islamism in eastern Germany. It can be downloaded from the internet at: mi.sachsen-anhalt.de/verfassungsschutz/publikationen (Brochure_Islamism_in_ST_2025.pdf).
https://mi.sachsen-anhalt.de/verfassungsschutz/themenfelder/islamismus
For more information on Islamist currents and their unique manifestations in Saxony-Anhalt, please visit: https://mi.sachsen-anhalt.de/verfassungsschutz/themenfelder/islamismus
The Ministry of the Interior and Sport offers insight into the work of the Saxony-Anhalt Office for the Protection of the Constitution through its series "What does the Office for the Protection of the Constitution do?". The current Part 3 focuses on the observation of Islamism in Saxony-Anhalt. All information can be found at: mi.sachsen-anhalt.de/verfassungsschutz/informationsreihe-was-macht-der-verfassungsschutz.
Text/Photo: Ministry of the Interior and Sport of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, 31 May 2025
mi.sachsen-anhalt.de/verfassungsschutz/informationsreihe-was-macht-der-verfassungsschutz
Other than the immediate threat of Islamist terrorism, general news often covers the broader political implications of the ongoing struggle against Islamism in Germany. In the context of preventive measures, the Saxony-Anhalt constitutional protection office collaborates with various sectors to educate multipliers about recognizing and addressing Islamist behaviors, as outlined on their website.
