Germany has taken steps to facilitate the deportation of foreigners who promote terrorism, following a significant increase in online hate speech during the Gaza conflict.
Jerrymusa.com reports that the new regulations, approved by the cabinet, enable authorities to deport individuals for a single social media post that glorifies terrorism, according to the interior ministry.
“We are taking tough action against Islamist and anti-Semitic hate crimes on the internet,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
Germany’s Clamp Down on Terrorism
The move comes in response to a surge in hate posts, particularly from Islamists, after the October 7 attack on Israel and the fatal stabbing of a police officer by an Afghan asylum seeker in Mannheim.
Faeser emphasized that the measures target “Islamist and anti-Semitic hate crimes on the internet” and that individuals who glorify terrorist acts will be expelled.
Faeser clarified that the changes are aimed at individuals who actively promote violence, not those who simply like or share posts.
“We are talking here about real glorification of violence,” she said. The law, which needs parliamentary approval, will allow foreigners to challenge deportation orders in court.
The government hopes to pass the law after the summer recess, building on existing convictions for social media posts glorifying terrorism.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also advocated for the deportation of individuals who celebrate acts of terror, condemning such behavior as a “slap in the face” for victims and democratic values.
“Glorifying terrorist offences amounts to a slap in the face for the victims, their families, and our democratic order,” he said.