The Islamic Center's operations have come to an end, according to the latest reports
In the heart of Regensburg, Germany, a hoax involving the sale of the former Kaufhof building has caused quite a stir. The city's press office has confirmed that the sale to an investor group was never completed.
The hoax, initially reported by the Regensburg newspaper, sparked fears and racially charged prejudices in the population, leading to incitement on social media. A controversial Islam expert in the Springer paper Welt fanned these fears, based on thin information.
At the centre of the controversy was a supposed investor group, whose spokesperson spread tales of plans for an Islamic cultural centre in the dilapidated property. However, it was later revealed that the name of the spokesperson was fabricated, and the alleged investor group was, in fact, a straw man - a taxi driver from Tel Aviv.
Industry insiders knew from the start that the plans were a trick. Despite this, the CSU continued to insist on pulling the pre-emption right, even though the purchase price was vastly inflated, around 30 million euros. Interestingly, only 80% of the former Kaufhof building was for sale, not the entire property.
The alleged plans for an Islamic centre were a ploy to pressure the city into buying the property. The regional AfD faction visited the Neupfarrplatz with a large police presence, demanding that the city exercise its pre-emption right.
Despite the hoax, the city continues talks with Kaufhof GmbH, a company with ties to Austrian billionaire René Benko, based on a city council resolution. The questionable actions of Kaufhof GmbH cast doubt on the success of these talks.
The Mayor of Regensburg, Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer, did not proactively inform the public that the sale plans were a hoax, adding to the confusion and mistrust.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information before spreading it, especially in sensitive matters that can incite fear and prejudice. The public and media alike have a responsibility to ensure accuracy and fairness in their reporting.
The hoax, initially spreading fears and incitement on social media about proposed plans for an Islamic cultural center in the former Kaufhof building, was later revealed to be a ploy. Despite this, the regional AfD faction demanded that the city exercise its pre-emption right, unaware of the hoax.
The incident highlights the importance of verifying information in sensitive matters such as politics, general news, and crime-and-justice reporting, to ensure accuracy and fairness.
