Cologne Stir: Taliban's Talks Fuel Unrest, Yet No Criminal Indications
Cologne (NRW) - The recent visit of Taliban leader Abdul Bari Omar (36) to Germany sparked an uproar, particularly his speech at the Ditib mosque in Cologne-Chorweiler. The local authorities in NRW have since scrutinized his speech, searching for any potential criminal incitements.
Recent Developments and Inspections
Investigations have been underway as the NRW Ministry of the Interior reviews recordings of Omar's speech in the city's past few days. The primary objective was to unearth any signs of criminal activities that could necessitate intervention from the police.
"Our analysis of Omar's speech has uncovered no criminal inducements so far," announced Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) in the Interior Committee of the state parliament in Düsseldorf on Thursday.
Aspects of the Speech
Omar's address focused on a plea for support and aid for Afghanistan. Reul countered the idea that it was terrorist in nature, asking, "What's criminal about that?" He was not fond of the Taliban presence but acknowledged the importance of adhering to the law.
The Man Behind the Visit
Intriguingly, German authorities were unaware of any intelligence or police information pertaining to Omar or his affiliations in NRW. Moreover, details regarding the "Cultural Association of Kunar Youth," which organized Omar's event, are scant.
It had initially been disclosed that Omar, as head of the Afghan Food and Drug Authority, legally entered the country using a Schengen visa obtained from the Netherlands. Although Germany no longer classifies the Taliban as a foreign terrorist organization, exclamations of outrage ensued due to the uncommunicated visit and the organization's non-transparent invitation.
Enrichment
In response to the visit and subsequent controversy, the German Foreign Office expressed condemnation, emphasizing a strong stance against the appearance of the Taliban representative in Cologne.
Given this context, the NRW authorities, despite not explicitly denouncing potential criminal incitement, would likely perceive Omar's rhetoric in a disfavorable light, given the escalating tension.
