'Orientation' needed

DW: Thus far there are few signs in Germany of an Islamist scene emerging from the Caucasus. How do you see the issue?

Ekkehard Maass: I wouldn't at all say there's a defined Islamist scene. After 18 years of working with Chechen refugees and asylum seekers, I can just say that I've noticed a stronger focus on religion in the last one or two years. That means that young people, in particular, who have grown up in Germany are lacking orientation. They're uncertain and are afraid that they aren't destined for paradise. To be on the safe side, they start growing beards, and the women suddenly begin wearing Arab clothing and headscarves that let only their faces be seen. It strikes me that religion is playing a bigger role than it used to. But that doesn't mean they're Islamists merely on account of those things.

Could there be a connection with the attacks in Paris?

I consider that very improbable. But there are young people here who come into contact with Islamists in certain mosques. Some individuals have let themselves be recruited, and a very small handful of Chechen young people from Berlin have also gone to Syria.

Do we also need to fear attacks from them here in Germany?

I don't think so. If Chechens are being led toward any terrorist acts, then I believe other organizations would be behind them - like in Boston. After all, the Chechens that come here are refugees who have left their own country because of political persecution. They want to survive here somehow. However, there is also a strong sense of anger over the [Muhammad] caricatures among the Chechens who live here. I think it's unfortunate that with all of the positive things we're seeing now, there's really no discussion about the content of the cartoons. You can't just act like there's no problem there at all. I think nearly all Muslims are offended by these caricatures. A long process will be necessary before this religion has refined itself and moved away from ideas that are rooted in the Middle Ages - and toward an open and democratic society.

Do you have any suggestions for how the city should handle the situation of people moving here from the Caucasus region?

What I would like to see people do in Berlin is to strengthen the Chechens in their moderate Sufi tradition. If they had their own space, their own small mosque, for example - because as it is now, they're forced to go to Arab or Turkish mosques. It's important to give these young people a sense of orientation, and really the older members of the community here should be doing that.

Ekkehard Maass chairs the German-Caucasian Society in Berlin.