A new attack shocked Europe, this time in the center of its main economy. A truck entered a traditional Christmas Market in Berlin last Monday, running over more than 60 people along an 80 meters track. 12 people passed away and 48 were injured, 18 of them seriously. The driver ran away. Hours later, the self-called Islamic State (IS) claimed the attack and informed the attacker was one of its “soldiers”. The attack method is the same used in the French city of Niza, on past July, which was also claimed by the IS, and which caused 85 deaths.
By International Secretariat.
From the IWL-FI, we repudiate this attack and we stand in solidarity with all the victims and relatives of the dead people. Actions like this deserve full repudiation of the workers and social movements and the parties that claim to be leftists.
Despite the IS trying to justify these terror methods with political positions, many times covered-up by an anti-imperialist rhetoric, the truth is these attacks are directed to workers and even children and immigrants that have nothing to do with their government’s policies, as in fact they are also victims of it.
This type of attack only makes it easier for the governments to cut democratic freedoms, specially for the Arab and Muslim population; they fertilize the ground for the implementation of austerity policies and reinforce the racist and xenophobic migratory policy of Merkel and other European “democracies”.
The German chancellor already stated that it would be “specially repulsive” to confirm that the author of the attack requested asylum as a refugee. Donald Trump made an effusive call to the civilized world to strengthen the fight against “Jihadism”: “These terrorists and their regional and worldwide networks must be eradicated from the face of the earth, a mission we will carry out with all freedom-loving partners”.[1] V. Putin, on his side, ordered to strengthen all safety measures in his country after the Berlin attack and the murder of the Russian Ambassador in Ankara. On the other hand, the main leaders of the extreme right-wing in Europe –Le Pen in France; Alternative in Germany; Nigel Farage in the UK- have joint voices to demand closing the borders, the end of refugees reception and preventive prison for Muslims, besides a higher budget for the repressive forces.
Thus, this kind of attack must be repudiated. The workers are not guilty. The ones responsible for the humanitarian catastrophe in Middle East and for the barbarianism scenes in the European costs and borders are the imperialist governments. The dominant European classes will try, as they have done before, to use this attack to strengthen the repressive offensive against the workers in general, and specifically the xenophobia and Islamophobia against all refugees, immigrants and Muslims.
We insist: only the independent mobilization of the oppressed peoples allied with the working class and the peoples of the European countries will be capable of defeating the Islamic State and the imperialism, which promotes bloody wars to defend its petty interests. Currently, the main stage of this fight is Syria, where the anti-dictatorial rebels’ battalions fight under unequal conditions against the Syrian regime, militarily supported by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, and also against the Islamic State. It is urgent for the European and global working class to tighten bonds of solidarity with the triumph of the Syrian revolution.
Full repudiation to the attacks to innocent people!
No to xenophobia and Islamophobia against the Muslim people and the refugees!
Down with the Islamic State!
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Notes:
[1]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/12/20/trump-cites-holy-war-in-berlin-attack-even-while-facts-remain-unknown/?utm_term=.8ef0477b4808
