Mohammed Ali Slim (22) was a soldier in the German army, is a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), is currently training to become a retail salesman – and loves his religion, Islam. And this is where his problems begin.
Because the Offenburg native from Lebanon has published a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed on his social media platforms – a naked man with leather boots and rainbow flags. As a sign of solidarity with homosexuality, bisexuals and transgender persons. “I stand for an open-minded, liberal Islam.”
But why this action, which is provocative for many Muslims? Slim told the newspaper BILD: “In memory of the French teacher Samuel Paty, who showed the Mohammed cartoons in class almost a year ago and whose head was later cut off because of the cartoons.
“I get death threats almost every day. Even my own family stormed into my flat, I was able to shout for help from the window, neighbours called the police.” There was police operation.
Even close friends sent him messages of hate, angry Muslims ambushed him. “I now only dare to go outside with security measures such as pepper spray.”
Slim is sure: “Behind the exaggerated reactions there are not only religious but also political motives. Islamist groups are trying to stir up hatred against the West in this way.”
But he is not giving up. “It cannot be that the violation of religious feelings restricts freedom of expression to such an extent that people are threatened with death. We live here in a constitutional state and not in a caliphate.”
Spokesperson Karen Stürzel: “The complaint against unknown persons regarding the threat was taken up at the Offenburg police headquarters and in the meantime handed over to the Offenburg public prosecutor’s office.”
And further: “At the police, every kind of threat is taken very seriously, assessments of the danger situation are made and appropriate measures to protect the person concerned are examined, as in this case. For his own protection, the person concerned was informed and sensitised by the officers of the criminal investigation department about possible reactions and dangers regarding his publications.”
But: It is possible that Slim is now even being investigated. “Irrespective of a possible endangerment of the person concerned, the Offenburg public prosecutor’s office is currently examining whether the publication of the person concerned could in turn be punishable.”
Meaning: Did Mohammed Ali Slim insult religious societies with the publication?
Slim said: “I will not be intimidated. My Islam is not afraid of criticism. On the contrary! As a democratic Muslim, you have to endure the tension between freedom of expression and religion if you want to live in a democratic society.”
The Islamic world is experiencing a “struggle between those who share the values of enlightenment and democracy and those who reject these values”.
The Islamic world is experiencing a “struggle between those who share the values of enlightenment and democracy and those who reject these values”. Slim also says: “I find the silence of the Muslim umbrella organisations in this country terrible.” And he cautions:
“Freedom of expression must not be made dependent on the consent of religious fanatics. Where would we end up if we made it dependent on religious fanatics whether we show a caricature or not?”