True Religion (Islamist organization)

True Religion, (a.k.a: Read) is a German Islamist organization known for distributing German-language copies of the Quran. In November 2016 the organization was banned by the German government which accused it of recruiting jihadists to fight in Syria and Iraq.

True religion is a Salafi organization.[1]

November 2016 raids

A 32-year-old Iraqi-born Hildesheim-based Salafi preacher and member of the organization who goes by the name Abu Walaa was arrested on 8 November, triggering a nationwide police crack down the following week.[1]

Beginning on November 15, 2016, German authorities conducted raids on 190 locations across the nation, securing material used in the promotion of violent jihad. According to government sources, 140 of the group's members are known to have traveled to Iraq or Syria to fight for ISIS.[2][3]

Palestinian Ibrahim Abou-Nagie, an immigrant Salafist preacher, came up with the idea of distributing Qurans to passers-by.[3] Abou Nagie was out of the country at the time of the raids.[3] He arrived in Germany in 1982 as an 18-year-old and claims to have earned millions in business, although those claims have not been substantiated.[4] He became a citizen in 1984.[4] He describes a religious awakening in 2003 after which he became a preacher.[4] Abou-Nagie has been known to German security officials since 2005; the year he created a website described by officials as spreading extremist propaganda.[3] An attempt to prosecute Mr. Abou-Nagie on charges of incitement of religious hatred failed in 2012.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Smali, Alison (19 November 2016). "Germany Cracks Down on Salafists to Shield Refugees". New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  2. ↑ Niebergall, Nina (15 November 2016). "'True religion:' How Salafists lure supporters". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Eddy, Melissa (15 November 2016). "Germany Bans 'True Religion' Muslim Group and Raids Mosques". New York Times. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Huggler, Justin (15 November 2016). "What is 'True Religion', the Islamist group banned in Germany?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
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