Fight against extremism: Saleh: Protection against Islamophobia should be included in the constitution

In light of the rising number of anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents, Berlin's SPD parliamentary group leader, Raed Saleh, is pushing for a change to Berlin's constitution . "I demand that we include the fight against anti-Semitism, against anti-Muslim racism, and against racism of any kind in the state constitution," he told the German Press Agency. "That would be new and that would be a big deal."

"Many people of the Jewish faith live in Berlin . Many people of the Muslim faith also live in Berlin – more than 400,000." It is diversity that defines Berlin, said the SPD politician. "And it is high time to make concrete efforts to enshrine this in the state constitution."

"We are experiencing an increase in anti-Semitism. We are also experiencing an increase in anti-Muslim sentiment and, overall, a fragmentation of society," said Saleh, who heads the new commission of inquiry appointed by the House of Representatives to develop proposals for greater social cohesion and to combat anti-Semitism, racism, and anti-Muslim sentiment. It meets again on Friday.

"That is why I am firmly convinced that it is right to use this symbol to make it clear that people of Jewish faith and people of Muslim faith belong to our society and that we will fight racism of all kinds," Saleh explained.

States such as Saxony-Anhalt and Hamburg have enshrined the fight against antisemitism in their state constitutions. Brandenburg's constitution states: "The state protects the peaceful coexistence of people and opposes antisemitism, antigypsyism, and the spread of racist and xenophobic ideas."

"In Berlin, it would be logical to also take up the fight against anti-Muslim racism," Saleh said. "No one can close their eyes to the fact that Muslim people experience hostility and are exposed to threats not only verbally but often in their everyday lives."

Saleh will not tolerate racism

"Where anti-Semitism is tolerated, anti-Muslim racism soon grows stronger – and vice versa," said the SPD parliamentary group leader. "Playing these people off against each other, one group at a time, ultimately benefits only the extremists who reject our country in all its diversity. We cannot allow that."

Saleh had already proposed a corresponding amendment to the state constitution in February of last year. Previously, Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) had suggested making the fight against anti-Semitism a state goal.