Misuse of German coronavirus aid to finance terrorism
Some of the German government's coronavirus relief funds have reportedly been used to finance Islamist extremists. In Berlin alone, 60 individuals and Islamic organizations are reportedly being investigated for alleged misuse of the funds.
There is a strong suspicion that part of the aid allocated by the German government to compensate individuals and small business owners for the losses caused by the Corona pandemic has flowed to some Middle Eastern countries and has been used to serve extremist Islamists and finance terrorism.
The newspaper "Die Welt" reported on Sunday, March 14, citing sources close to Berlin's judicial authorities, that in at least three specific cases there is evidence that coronavirus aid in war zones in the Middle East was used to finance terrorism.
According to this report, in Berlin alone, cases have been filed against 60 individuals and associations operating mosques on suspicion of involvement in fraud and abuse of government aid related to Corona.
It is said that preliminary investigations have been launched into more than 100 cases of these individuals regarding possible misuse of government aid and financial support for extremist Islamists.
Police and judicial authorities are investigating the cases and extent of government aid received to compensate for coronavirus damage without the applicant meeting the necessary conditions to receive it.
Officers investigating these cases believe that the perpetrators acted like organized gangs.
The Extremist Salafist Association and Coronavirus Aid
In addition, an extremist and anti-Semitic Salafist association called "Jamaat," whose activities were recently banned by the Berlin Senate, and a jihadist preacher known for spreading hatred are said to be among the recipients of German government coronavirus aid.
These individuals are also suspected of abusing the coronavirus subsidy. Anis Amiri, the perpetrator of the terrorist attack on the Christmas market in Berlin's Breitscheidplatz, was an extremist Islamist who had connections with the Jamaat association.
According to Die Welt, the damage in the cases in which preliminary investigations have been launched is estimated at around one million euros. Police have so far seized 250,000 euros in inspections.
In recent months, agents of the state criminal investigation department have launched a large-scale operation against potential abusers of coronavirus aid and have inspected dozens of mosques, Islamic association offices, and private homes in Berlin.
The penalty for misusing state aid in Germany can be up to five years in prison, and in extreme cases even up to ten years. This penalty can be even more severe in cases where financial support for terrorism is proven.
Source: DW
