Germans crack down on religious extremists believed to pose a threat to democracy

In a recent crackdown on radical Islam, German authorities have launched nationwide raids on an ultra-conservative religious group – the Salafists.

The Salafists are suspected of having links to extremists and posing a threat to democracy. For years, the movement has enjoyed conditions that enabled it thrive, Russia Today's Oksana Boyko reports.

The group is an ultra-conservative branch of Islam that is intolerant of infidels.  According to a German domestic intelligence report, Salafism is the fastest  growing Islamic movement in the world.  It preaches a literal interpretation of the Koran.  Salafists believe that mainstream Muslims are just as guilty of being infidels as Christians, Jews and atheists.

Guided by political correctness, the German government watched on as the movement spread. It has been funded largely by Saudi Arabia.

But this month, after a number of police raids, the German government moved to ban a number of Salafist groups whose ideology was recognized as incompatible with democratic values. Elsewhere in Europe, Norway has banned Saudi-funded mosques and France has banned burqas that cover a woman's face.

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D. Beeksma

One of the growing crowd of American "nones" herself, Deborah is a prolific writer who finds religion, spirituality and the impact of belief (and non-belief) on culture inspiring, fascinating and at times, disturbing. She hosts the God Discussion show and handles the site's technical work. Her education and background is in business, ecommerce and law.

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