Germany: Stuttgart and Essen Christmas Markets Disrupted by Muslims Chanting "Allahu Akhbar"

-Bild

-Bild

This story is about 10 days old, but the Stuttgart Christmas Market was disrupted last week by reportedly 4-5,000 thousand "Syrians" chanting "Allahu Akhbar", playing Arabic music, and celebrating the fall of Bashar Assad. This link from Signal Online.de, dated December 14,  has a video showing what happened in Stuttgart. Reportedly, other similar events across Germany and Austria were also disrupted, notably in Essen. This link from Apollo News has a video of what took place in Essen on December 8 at the city Christmas Market.

Translations are pending.

*Update: The above Signal article is translated by Fousesquawk.

"Allahu Akhbar" at the Stuttgart Christmas Market

Last updated 14 December 2024

"Allahu Akhbar" and Oriental music at the Stuttgart Christmas Market. "Bild" Newspaper quotes the Islam expert, Ahmad Mansour: "Consciously using Christmas markets for demonstrations is disrespectful and tasteless. There are other ways to celebrate the end of a tyrant without stirring up cultural tensions."

*Update: Here is our translation from the above Apollo News article on the events in Essen.

North Rhine Westphalia

December 10, 2024

After the fall of Assad: Thousands of Syrians parade through Essen Christmas Market

-Jonas Aston

After the fall of the Syrian ruler, Assad, around 11,000 Syrians gathered. In the center of the city, traffic came to a temporary standstill. In addition, the demonstrators marched through the Christmas Market. 

Caption: After the fall of Assad, around 11,000 demonstrators gathered.

On Sunday, around 11,000 persons gathered in Essen to celebrate the fall of the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Actually, only 300 people were (expected) for the demonstration. The demonstration took place in the Essen inner city around Jakob-Funke Square. There were also numerous demonstrators out on the Kettwiger Strasse (street) and at the Central Train Station. Among others, hundreds of Syrians marched through the Essen Christmas Market.

In Essen, meanwhile, chaos reigned. The Essen police speak of "serious traffic disruptions and numerous traffic jams". The protest itself is described as "emotional and boisterous". Police helicopters have been deployed to monitor the disturbances in the city area. There are also violations of public order and laws reported, including the use of fireworks and the firing of blank pistols.

In addition to the gathering, there were also auto processions. Honking cars drove through the inner city and temporarily brought traffic to a complete standstill. In Essen alone, about 16,000 Syrians are residing. The demonstrators, according to police, however, came from all over Germany, some even from the Netherlands.

The demonstrations were not only in Essen, but in numerous cities in North Rhine Westphalia alone. One thousand people gathered in Wuppertal. In Bonn, Muenster, Duesseldorf, Aachen, Hamm, Siegen, and Solingen, several hundred people came together. An anticipated event in Cologne did not take place. The day before, 1,000 people of Syrian origin came together in Dortmund.