German Family Minister pledges €5 mln for deradicalization, queer projects after CSD attack

CDU Family Minister Karin Prien wants to make 5 million euros available. Berlin Left Party candidate Elif Eralp calls for clarification.

29 July 2026, 8:27 AM

Now wants to spend more money on queer projects: Family Minister Karin Prien, here at the CSD commemoration in Berlin. Photo: Annegret Hilse/Reuters Pool via AP/dpa

dpa/epd | Following the Islamist attack on the sidelines of Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin, Family Minister Karin Prien is promising the federal states additional funding for programs against radicalization. Specifically, this concerns five million euros from the "Demokratie leben!" (Live Democracy!) funding program, which were not previously earmarked for this purpose.

"I could very well imagine using this amount," said the CDU politician. Referring to the attack—in which an Islamist killed a woman and injured around 30 other people, some critically—she emphasized: "For me, this shocking attack is a reason to sharpen the focus of 'Demokratie leben!' in extremism prevention and to put the topic of deradicalization at the center." She intends to consult with the states and associations, including Muslim communities.

Deradicalization programs aim to dissuade young people from their radical views through intensive counseling. Scientific monitoring shows that such programs can be successful, said Prien. However, a prerequisite is that those involved are open to it. "If young people are as strongly radicalized as this perpetrator, then a deradicalization program is presumably not the method of choice. Then it's more about criminal justice, surveillance, and protective measures."

Minister defends course on "Demokratie leben!"

"Demokratie leben!" is a federal funding program launched in 2014 to support initiatives for diversity, democracy, and against extremism. Prien has initiated a realignment and has faced criticism for it. Among others, people from the queer community complain that counseling services have been cut.

Prien said: "First of all, I see that it was right to focus more strongly on extremism, especially from the Islamist side, in 'Demokratie leben!'." In addition, within the framework of partnerships for democracy, funds continue to be available for protection concepts in municipalities for minorities, including queer groups.

"In this respect, the claim that we are no longer supporting queer activities is simply false," said the minister. "If we want to fund new things, then we have to review other things. But we still have the situation of minorities—including the queer minority—in view."

Queer people are under particular pressure in parts of the country and can expect solidarity. "And they can rely on that," said Prien.

First clarify

The lead candidate of the Left Party for the Berlin election on September 20, Elif Eralp, warns against a hasty tightening of security laws. "I don't think much of knee-jerk reactions," said Eralp on RBB in the morning. Rather, it is necessary first to look "calmly and prudently" at what exactly happened. "That means, first of all, the act must be comprehensively clarified." Once that is done, the necessary consequences must be drawn.

She has some questions for the judiciary and security authorities, said Eralp. This includes the question of why pre-trial detention was lifted for the attacker after a previous conviction, among other things, for attempting to join the terrorist militia IS. It must also be clarified why there were surveillance gaps, even though the perpetrator was classified as an Islamist threat. Investigators already have many powers; they just need to be applied, said Eralp.

In the terrorist attack on Saturday, the attacker drove a car into several pedestrians before injuring more people—presumably with a machete. One woman was killed, 31 people were injured—some of them seriously. Abdul B. was then shot dead by police on Sunday evening after they tracked him down in a garden colony.