An Ashura procession in Berlin has sparked widespread condemnation after participants chanted support for deceased Islamist terror leaders and flagged controversial symbols, Junge Freiheit reports.
During the march, observing a holy day that holds major historical and religious significance for Shiite and Sunni Muslims, attendees openly chanted the name of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in a 2024 Israeli airstrike, and paid tribute to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The event drew severe criticism online and from civic groups, particularly due to the treatment of young children during the processions. Social media footage showed children dressed in ceremonial robes and bound with ropes, being led through the streets in 40-degree heat. The Jewish Forum for Democracy and Against Antisemitism (JFDA) condemned the scene on its X account, calling it a “disturbing instrumentalization of children” who were put on display for an “Islamist spectacle” under dangerous weather conditions.
In addition to the controversial chants, attendees waved a variety of national flags from Turkey to Iran and Lebanon, alongside black flags inscribed with the Arabic statement of faith, the Shahada. While the creed itself is a fundamental tenet of Islam, the specific black flag design utilized during the march has historically been adopted by extremist organizations, including the Islamic State. The display of these highly politicized symbols on the streets of the German capital has further fueled public anger and security concerns.
