Germany's liberal party leader Kubicki on Berlin Pride attack: 'Islamism is the Enemy'

By&nbspWolfgang Kubicki is a lawyer and leader of Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP). He is a former member of the German Bundestag and former Vice President of the Bundestag. Published on 26/07/2026 - 22:04 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent in any way the editorial position of Euronews.

The Islamist attack at Berlin's Christopher Street Day highlights the threat Islamism poses to freedom, leader of Germany's liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) Wolfgang Kubicki writes in Euronews, arguing that it is growing in Germany and must be confronted. Almost exactly ten years ago, on 12 June 2016, Orlando, Florida, was the scene of the deadliest terrorist attack in the United States since 11 September 2001. A gunman opened fire at the Pulse nightclub, killing 49 people and injuring 58 others.

Nearly six years ago, on 4 October 2020, a terrorist attacked two men with a knife in Dresden, Germany, killing one and critically injuring the other. Yesterday, Berlin was struck by another terrorist attack, in which one person was killed and several others were critically injured. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Attack on Berlin Pride parade.

Mourners near the scene of the attack (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) AP Photo Islamist terror against gay people What links these three crimes is both the motive and the choice of target. The victims in Orlando were patrons of a gay nightclub, the two men attacked in Dresden were married to each other, and those targeted in Berlin were attending Christopher Street Day. As far as we know, all three attacks were motivated by Islamism and directed against homosexual people.

It is no coincidence that the sense of security among sexual minorities has deteriorated dramatically in recent years. This is not only due to the attacks mentioned at the outset, but also of a broader rise in such acts of violence. Last year the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) recorded 284 violent offences motivated by victim's sexual orientation.

That level has remained similarly high for years, after the figures had previously surged. In 2015 there were just 54 such offences. Equal rights for same-sex couples were a victory for reason Germany has no reason at all to feel morally superior when it comes to its treatment of sexual minorities.

Just a few decades ago, gay men were prosecuted under criminal law – with the blessing of the country’s highest court in Karlsruhe. Under the Nazi regime, this persecution reached its tragic peak. For thousands, it was only the beginning of deportation to concentration camps, where many died in agony.

Those who returned were condemned to shameful silence, because the reason for their martyrdom remained a criminal offence and socially despised. We have overcome that state of affairs, although it was a long and arduous journey. Decriminalisation and, ultimately, equal rights for same-sex couples were a victory of humanist reason over crude prejudice in our laws.

Jews, women, Christmas markets – freedom is dying Today, in 2026, the threat to gay and bisexual people no longer comes from the state. And yet freedom in this country is currently dying. Not only for this group, but also for Jews, whose schools and nurseries require ever tighter security to protect children and who are increasingly targeted in violent attacks.

It is true for women, too, many of whom feel less safe travelling home alone at night. And it is true for anyone who has paused before visiting a Christmas market, festival or other public event and wondered whether it is really safe to go. Related Attack on Berlin Pride: political Islam threatens open society Sections of the left cling to a warped worldview Regrettably, there is a growing tendency not only to deny the causes of this development, but to resist acknowledging them altogether.

Particularly in left-wing circles, a crude worldview is cultivated that seeks to claim entire groups for itself. Reports on this year’s Christopher Street Day in Kiel, for instance, said that the far-left organisation "TurboKlimaKampfGruppe Kiel" (TKKG) disrupted the event against the organisers’ wishes by chanting anti-police slogans. The group said it was protesting because "the police as an institution" were supporting and driving "the authoritarian and right-wing developments of this state", allowing "racist violence above all to continue and expand".

During the demonstration, members chanted familiar far-left anti-police slogans, including "No Cops" and "All Cops Are Bastards". Biggest threat to a liberal, open society: Islamism But these tendencies and this refusal to name the greatest threat to a liberal, open way of life where it actually lies – in Islamism – are also found in more moderate left-wing circles. This stems from a misguided understanding of tolerance.

Yet there is nothing