Authorities in Wuppertal are cracking down on conservative young Islamists who have mounted 'police' patrols by drinking and gambling venues in the Ruhr city, officials said on Friday.
Charges of unlawful assembly and use of uniform in public were brought against 11 members of a group trying to enforce aspects of strict Islamic Sharia law in the North Rhine-Westphalia city, a spokeswoman for the Wuppertal police told The Local.
Officers stopped the 11-man group on the street on Wednesday. Some were wearing orange vests bearing the words 'Shariah Police', in violation of federal German law, the spokeswoman said.
The group has been stopping young people at local drinking and gambling establishments and urging them to abstain from activities deemed to be ungodly according to Islam.
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Don't cross the line, warn policeMeanwhile, the Wuppertal police on Friday released a statement pledging to crack down on anyone seeking to take the law into their own hands, especially with any use of intimidation or force.
"The state has an exclusive monopoly on the use of force," reminded local police chief Birgitta Radermacher. "Any conduct that intimidates, provokes or makes people insecure will not be tolerated. These 'Sharia Police' have no legitimacy," she added.
There had been repeated attempts, especially at night time, by members of the Salafi Islamist community to influence and recruit young people, the statement said.
Police presence in the city centre had been strengthened and citizens were urged to report sightings of the group, which has said it will expand its activities in other towns.
The group reportedly identifies itself with the Salafi movement, an ultra-conservative sub-group within Islam with a strong following in the Middle East. Most of the world's Salafis are from Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
http://www.thelocal.de/20140905/ruhr-police-throw-book-at-shariah-vigilantes
