A lot of fuss about 26 seconds: After sharp criticism of his video “The Salafism Trap,” the Bavarian Interior Ministry deleted the clip from its social media channels after just two and a half hours at the beginning of September. A few days later, at an interreligious conference, Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) apologized to all Muslims “who feel insulted or attacked by these images.”
But how did the video come about? How did it come about being published? The SPD and Green factions wanted clarification – now the answers are available. In contrast to a statement from the ministry five weeks ago, Interior State Secretary Sandro Kirchner (CSU) is now talking about a glitch: the video was “inadvertently premature” posted on social media. According to Kirchner, it was intended to promote a campaign that would warn young people about the dangers posed by Salafists.
Woman disappears into a preacher’s jaws
The animated video shows a young woman watching a preacher wearing a prayer cap in a smartphone clip. The question appears: “Are Muslim women allowed to wear make-up?” Plus dark music. The preacher laughs maliciously, opens his mouth – and the woman disappears down his throat. Shortly afterwards she can be seen wearing a headscarf, then with a full veil.
According to Kirchner, the prevention campaign is aimed at young people between the ages of eleven and 16. They should be informed about “how manipulative Salafist preachers act online.” In addition, the campaign’s message is also relevant for 16 to 24 year olds. The visual and audio language of the video relies on a “very direct, heavily simplified” visual orientation, as is common on TikTok, for example, and is expected by young users.
The public prosecutor’s office is examining criminal charges
The swallowing of the woman symbolizes the “ever deeper immersion of young people via the algorithms of social media channels” and the “overload of extremist ideas,” explains Kirchner in his answer to questions from the SPD and the Greens.
Since the imagery gave many users the impression that the campaign was generally directed against Muslims, it was stopped immediately and will be revised. According to the information, the Munich public prosecutor’s office is investigating several criminal complaints regarding the video.
“Special sensitivity of the topic” is discussed
Kirchner assures that the “particular sensitivity of the topic” was discussed in advance in the ministry. “The video is not about Islam, but about Salafists and other Islamists.” The head of the ministry approved the basic concept of the campaign, but did not see the video before it was broadcast early.
Despite the sensitive topic, the Interior Ministry saw no need to engage with Muslim associations or partners in interreligious dialogue for the campaign. It received advice from the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office. The “design and technical implementation” was then left to a communications agency.
“A whole host of birth defects”
The SPD interior expert in the state parliament, Christiane Feichtmeier, tells the BR that her request confirms a whole series of birth defects in the video. The ministry only sought advice from security authorities. “The expertise of civil society actors who have been working in the prevention of Salafism for years was not included.” Partners were even damaged by the video. “We should remember the psychologist Ahmad Mansour, who had to publicly defend himself against this in order not to be associated with the video.”
When tackling such a difficult undertaking, Feichtmeier emphasizes that as much feedback as possible must be obtained. “Whether released prematurely or not, the video was not only ineffective, but also counterproductive and helped the Salafist scene.” The minister’s apology was “more than appropriate”, but was only made in a small circle. Herrmann has to get his house in order.
“Serious strategic mistake”
Green Party interior expert Florian Siekmann criticizes it as a “serious strategic mistake” by the Interior Minister to “launch a campaign against Salafism without involving the liberal Muslim community.” The damage of serving rather than combating Salafist victim narratives could have been avoided. The liberal Muslim community must be at the table during the revision. “She is an ally in the fight against extremism.”
