海角大神

Germany's anti-terror plan: More police and tighter citizenship laws

Germany鈥檚 interior minister unveiled new plans to tighten national security and combat potential future attacks following increased terrorist activity in Europe this summer.

First Look

After a series of attacks in France and Germany this summer, Germany鈥檚 interior minister revealed new proposals, including tighter security on dual nationals, expedited deportation of foreign nationals deemed dangerous, and increased funding for German police forces.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maizi猫re said he was limiting his proposals to elements that could be implemented quickly and would be considered politically reasonable. Such proposals include an added ability to strip citizenship from dual nationals who leave the country to fight abroad for militant Islamic groups, as well as a streamlined process for deporting foreigners who have committed violent crimes or are otherwise considered dangerous, making 鈥渆ndangering public safety鈥� the means for detainment.

Mr. Maizi猫re also proposed adding thousands of police officers and improved equipment to the German police force, with a goal of further enabling authorities to scour the 鈥渄arknet鈥� to intercept terror networks and make 鈥減romoting terrorism鈥� a criminal offense.

"A lot of people ... are worried about further attacks. That is understandable," Maizi猫re told reporters, .聽"No one can guarantee absolute security, but we must do what is possible."

After a summer of highly publicized violence 鈥� including聽the in which a French-Tunisian man drove a truck through a crowded promenade, as well as several more recent attacks in Bavaria, particularly the shooting of nine people by an Iranian-German man on a train in Munich 鈥撀燝ermany鈥檚 new proposals are seen as a way of allaying public fears.

One of his more controversial proposals would allow 鈥� and possibly require聽鈥撀燼bout terrorism-motivated patients before they could carry out an attack. The controversy revolves around the concept of relaxed patient confidentiality laws, which are currently strict and well-established in Germany.

鈥淭he tense security situation should not seduce people into hasty political and legal solutions. Doctor-patient confidentiality is a basic right protected by the constitution,鈥� said the head of Germany鈥檚 Federal Association of Doctors, Frank Ulrich Montgomery.

Maizi猫re's proposals come聽after the discovery that several of the perpetrators of recent mass-killings were known to be mentally unstable.

While certain elements of Maizi猫re's proposals drew criticism, he refrained from endorsing other controversial issues, such as banning burqas or abolishing dual citizenship altogether.

Both of those policies were suggested by Chancellor Merkel鈥檚 海角大神 Democratic Union and its sister party that operates in Bavaria, the 海角大神 Social Union.

鈥淵ou can't ban everything you're against,鈥� .聽鈥淎nd I'm against wearing a burqa.鈥�

Given the nature of Maizi猫re's proposals, critics have appeared on both sides, with the center-left Social Democrats strongly opposed to any ban on dual citizenship whatsoever, while Conservative party members plan to outline which are expected to outline even stricter policies including an increased focus on police hiring and rigorous monitoring of mosque funding and overall power for intelligence agencies. 聽

Though Germany is the first European nation to promote such legislation, Germans are not alone in reexamining international policing techniques and counterterrorism protocols in the face of perceived threats.

Maizi猫re did聽specify that, though several of the recent attacks were allegedly carried out by asylum-seekers, Germany will not hesitate to give shelter to people who seek and deserve asylum.