A friendly face, a calm voice and long monologues of over 20 minutes in some cases. This is how Marcel Krass presents himself on the YouTube channel of the so-called “Federal Islamic Union”. An association from Hanover that has existed since 2017 and which, according to its own statements, has set itself the goal of uniting German Muslims. Krass is one of two chairmen.
A constant for two decades.
The Baden-Württemberg Office for the Protection of the Constitution about Krass and his position in the Salafist scene in the Federal Republic.
On YouTube, he regularly devotes himself to everyday life questions and thus appeals to a young audience in particular. But while other influencers advertise cosmetic products or clothing in their videos, with Krass it is Islam that is to be made palatable to the viewers. A conservative, radical Islam.
His name appears regularly in reports by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution
In the past, the name Marcel Krass appeared regularly in the respective reports for the protection of the constitution in several federal states. The Baden-Württemberg Office for the Protection of the Constitution calls Krass a “fixed figure for two decades” in the Salafist scene in the Federal Republic.
This is probably also due to the fact that the Krefeld man has no reservations about contact with well-known German preachers of radical Islam. Krass is said to maintain close contact with Pierre Vogel and Sven Lau. As the head of the “Islamic Center Münster” at the time, Krass was also found to have had contacts with Ziad Jarrah, one of the Islamist terrorists of September 11, 2001 in New York. The two spoke on the phone several times, including in connection with the attacks on the World Trade Center.
The location of the event was kept secret until the end
For several weeks, Marcel Krass has been promoting a seminar event in Berlin for the so-called “Deen Academy” via his social networks. The evening at the end of April is advertised as the “event of the year”, Krass is said to speak to his audience for four hours.
The location of the event was kept secret until the end, but the woman who is supposed to moderate the evening published a blurry photo of the event location on her Instagram profile.
Venue landlords terminated the contract
According to Tagesspiegel research, this is a popular venue in the north of Berlin, in the Pankow district. When asked, the owners confirmed the rental, but at the same time reported that they had been deceived when the contract was signed.
The name “Marcel Krass” was apparently not mentioned, only a “seminar” was mentioned. The landlords of the venue then decided to terminate the contract in order not to offer the Salafist and his supporters a platform.
It is currently unclear whether Krass is already looking for a new location or has already given up on the Berlin seminar.
