European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, Germany & Netherlands – ECCI
Photo Shows Neukölln Imam with Hamas Figure
Photo Controversy at a Berlin Mosque
Berlin — How far are Berlin’s politicians willing to go in engaging with Islamist-linked environments? A heated dispute during a political event on Friday has brought this question into the spotlight. Leading candidates for Berlin’s upcoming state election on 20 September gathered for a discussion on Islam at a controversial mosque association in the Neukölln district.
The event took place at the Dar Assalam Mosque following an invitation from the Council of Imams. Candidates from the Greens, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Left Party agreed to participate, while Berlin’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) boycotted the event. CDU lead candidate Stefan Evers stated: “You do not discuss democracy with Islamists.” The Alternative for Germany (AfD) was not invited.
The mosque and its associated organisation have previously been the subject of controversy and security-related debate. Berlin’s domestic intelligence service, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, had for years associated the mosque with the environment of the Muslim Brotherhood. However, such assessments and previous references must be distinguished from a final criminal conviction or judicial determination of organisational membership.
The Free Democratic Party (FDP), meanwhile, took a different approach. Its candidate, Christoph Meyer, attended the event but raised the issue of alleged links between individuals associated with the mosque and Hamas.
During the discussion, Meyer presented an older photograph showing Imam Taha Sabri, the head of the Dar Assalam Mosque and its supporting organisation, the Neuköllner Begegnungsstätte (NBS), together with Amin Abu Rashid, who has been described in German media reports as a senior Hamas-linked figure and an important fundraiser in Europe.
Referring to the photograph, Meyer argued that the image raised serious questions about the mosque leadership’s connections and called for a clearer discussion of political Islam, Hamas and the events of 7 October.
It is important to note that the existence of a photograph or a personal meeting does not, by itself, constitute proof of organisational membership, criminal responsibility or participation in terrorist activities. Such claims require independent evidence and, where relevant, judicial determination.
Moderator Attempts to Stop the Debate
As Meyer began discussing what he described as the lack of a clear distancing from the events of 7 October, he was interrupted by the moderator, who attempted to stop his intervention.
The moderator accused the FDP politician of seeking media attention and escalating the discussion. Meyer nevertheless insisted on continuing, arguing that the purpose of political dialogue should also include addressing controversial and difficult issues.
The dispute took place in an environment where media access was reportedly limited. According to the German newspaper BILD, several journalists were not granted access to the event, and a planned livestream was cancelled shortly before the discussion for what organisers described as “technical reasons”. Meyer continued despite interruptions from the moderator and reactions from members of the audience.
“I do not want you to interrupt me. I want to have precisely this debate,” he said, referring to earlier criticism that the CDU had avoided the event by boycotting it.
Other Candidates Reject Focus on Terrorism
The discussion later developed into a broader political dispute over whether an event focused on Muslim life in Berlin should also centre on terrorism and religious extremism.
Left Party candidate Elif Eralp argued that it should be possible to discuss the lives and concerns of Muslims without automatically shifting the conversation towards religious extremism.
“We must be able to talk about Muslim life without talking about religious extremism. That is why we are here,” she said, receiving applause from parts of the audience.She also argued that Berlin should devote greater attention to what she described as anti-Palestinian racism.
Green Party candidate Bettina Jarasch criticised Meyer for what she described as attributing responsibility to the imam through personal contacts — a concept often referred to in Germany as Kontaktschuld, or “guilt by association”.SPD candidate Steffen Krach said after the event that he had not clearly seen the photograph displayed during the discussion and therefore could not comment on its contents.
Both politicians also criticised the CDU’s decision to boycott the event, arguing that dialogue should not automatically be cancelled simply because controversial or extremist individuals might be present in the wider environment.
A Wider Political and Security Debate
The incident at the Dar Assalam Mosque reflects a broader dilemma facing German politics: how to maintain dialogue with Muslim communities while ensuring that democratic institutions do not overlook legitimate concerns regarding political Islam, extremist networks or foreign influence.
For some political actors, dialogue with religious and community organisations is essential for integration and democratic participation. For others, engagement with institutions that have previously been the subject of security concerns risks providing political legitimacy without sufficient scrutiny.
The controversy in Neukölln therefore goes beyond a single election event. It illustrates the increasingly difficult balance between political outreach, religious freedom, integration and security considerations.
As Berlin approaches its election, the debate is likely to continue: Where should political dialogue begin, and where should democratic institutions draw the line when legitimate community engagement intersects with concerns over political Islam and extremist influence?
European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, Germany & Netherlands – ECCI
