The allegations are very serious.
The streets in Europe have been hot for weeks. Young people are opposing the collapse in education, social cuts, the high cost of living, war, militarization, and mandatory military service. In parallel, other images are being pushed to the forefront in a dominant manner.
Violence.
Masked groups dressed in all black. Clashes. Looted shops. Police interventions. These are what we have been seeing on screens and in newspapers for weeks. These are also present in politics once again.
And what follows then?
Bans.
Yes, there are demands to ban youth demonstrations in Germany. Antifa, meaning the anti-fascist movement and organizations, is being targeted. The Left Party (Die Linke) is being targeted. Immigrants are being mentioned in the same breath as violence. Moreover, it does not end with Germany. Belgium. France. Spain. Italy.
And at the other end of the line is Washington.
It is not for nothing that the important German foreign policy news analysis platform “German Foreign Policy” titled its article published after the Gen Z protests in Germany “The era of bans.”
It explains how the growing opposition to social cuts and militarization is being suppressed through debates on violence and security. It points out that the right and far-right are putting the left and anti-fascist organizations in their crosshairs. It documents that the German Federal Ministry of the Interior is conducting close cooperation with the Trump administration in this area.
If these are true, there is a much larger game at play than a few street clashes.
WHY DID THEY GATHER 60 COUNTRIES IN WASHINGTON?
The date is July 16, 2026. Representatives from more than 60 countries met at the same table in Washington.
“The resurgence of international far-left political terrorism.” How is that for a conference title?
The Trump administration had already declared four organizations operating outside the US as terrorists in November 2025.
Among them is Antifa Ost (Anti-Fascists East) from East Germany. A reward of up to 10 million dollars was offered for information regarding the financing of the organizations in question.
The influential dissident analysis site “German Foreign Policy” writes that the consequences of this are being seen in Germany. It also provides an example: the closing of the bank accounts of “Rote Hilfe,” or Red Aid.
Look at the language of the conference in Washington. Stephen Miller says leftists act out of “envy, hatred, and jealousy,” and that no one at the Antifa demonstrations “looks like a normal person.” He declares anti-fascists “enemies of civilization.” It is plain old language of othering.
So where is Germany during all this? Of course, in the room. Christian Klos, Head of the Public Security Department of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, is also at the meeting. Moreover, he is speaking on a panel titled “The threat environment posed by far-left terrorism.” That Germany participated in this meeting in Washington was revealed by “Frag Den Staat,” a platform for investigative journalism and transparency that tracks government documents. We do not know what Klos said there. Apparently, the Ministry of the Interior is not disclosing the preparatory documents on the grounds that they are classified.
There is more. Two German officials also took part in the preparatory meeting in May, and a follow-up meeting was reportedly being planned.
So, the Washington-Berlin cooperation is not just an allegation.
It is documented.
DOBRINDT... DOBRINDT AGAIN...
This name keeps coming up: Alexander Dobrindt. Today's Federal Minister of the Interior of Germany.
In 2011, he requested an investigation into banning the Left Party. He requested it again in 2012. Even Gerda Hasselfeldt from the Christian Social Union (CSU), his own party, opposed this request. She said there was no justification for such a ban.
Years passed. Coincidentally, Dobrindt became Minister of the Interior. The same Dobrindt who, in 2025, claimed that the “far-left” could engage in espionage and sabotage on behalf of foreign states...
“German Foreign Policy” writes, by the way, that this is an accusation completely devoid of evidence.
The same Dobrindt, today, after the Gen Z protests, is again pointing to “leftist groups” and “those causing chaos from immigrant circles.”
YOUNG PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS, AND A BAN FOLLOWED
On October 31, young people were on the streets all across Germany. Most of the demonstrations were peaceful. Violence erupted in some cities. There are interesting images circulating on social media regarding that day. Groups dressed in all black, faces masked. Individuals who were allegedly allowed to continue on their way without intervention after encountering the police. The images in question brought back allegations of a connection between provocateurs and security circles.
The allegations are out there. They should be investigated, but will they be?
Coincidentally, immediately afterward, the discussion of banning youth demonstrations began. Dobrindt, of course, did not delay in blaming leftist groups and immigrant circles. Although Hessian Interior Minister Roman Poseck said that the vast majority of those detained were German citizens, he immediately added that they came “mostly from immigrant-background circles.” The article, which reports that leftists and immigrants are being turned into scapegoats, included the description “the style of the Trump administration's racist practices.”
BELGIUM IS ALSO IN A HURRY TO PREPARE LEGISLATION
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin wants to ban organizations that “threaten national security or the foundations of the rule of law.” Antifa is explicitly mentioned there as well. MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez had already said back in 2025, “Antifa must be disbanded.” Defense Minister Theo Francken held the Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB-PVDA) responsible for the events in Brussels. But there is no evidence. However, there is an important detail... Because the PTB-PVDA supports protests against the government's armament and social cut policies. Moreover, the party is on the rise.
There is concern that the regulation being prepared could also be used against the party in question.
IN FRANCE, THE TARGET IS NOW THE OPPOSITION PARTY
France has raised the bar even higher. Senate President Gérard Larcher and Bruno Retailleau have openly brought up the banning of La France insoumise, or France Unbowed. Matthieu Valet from the far-right National Rally did not even feel the need to mince words: “We will disband all anti-fascist organizations.” Here we go. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen's party is marching toward power.
In Spain, Vox is not sitting idle either. It has made an initiative in parliament to disband Antifa-linked organizations. Vox is at around 19 percent. There is a possibility of it entering the government with the conservative Partido Popular, or People's Party.
ITALY DID NOT WAIT AT ALL
The Meloni government already accepted the new security decree on October 20. It has been in effect since October 23. Prison sentences and fines await protesters. Concealing one's face can make the penalty even heavier. The government says it is preventing violence and looting this way, but this intimidation was not enough to stop the youth. On October 30, they took to the streets again in more than 60 cities in Italy.
“SECRET POLICE” DEBATE EXPLODES IN GERMANY
In this very environment, there is another critical debate in Germany. Actually, it has been there for a while. And yes. As we guessed, Dobrindt is at the head of it again. The federal government wants to expand the powers of intelligence services. The bill has passed the Cabinet. It is in the Bundestag.
RIGHT TO SECRETLY ENTER HOMES, INFORMING BY CHILDREN
What is in it? Spyware, secret access to phones and computers, and even the right to secretly enter homes under certain conditions, interference with digital systems. And in exceptional cases, the use of 16-year-olds as informants. You read that right. 16 years old. According to the intelligence reform in question, the state will be able to use children to secretly collect information for intelligence purposes. Alarm bells are also ringing for journalists. Source protection. Private correspondence. Professional secrets. For doctors, doctor-patient confidentiality. For all of us, private life.
Left Party (Die Linke) MPs Clara Bünger and Daniela Sepehri have therefore launched a campaign on the “innn.it” platform titled “Stop the new German secret police!” The campaign's historical reference is heavy: “Post-1945 Germany. No more passage for secret police.” We are talking about a state apparatus that secretly enters people's lives, monitors, and interferes. Those who launched the campaign say the new reform erodes exactly this historical boundary.
The government, of course, describes the reform differently. It says “espionage.” It says “sabotage, cyberattack.” It says “foreign powers.” It argues that intelligence services need new tools. It also says that oversight mechanisms will be in place. But in expert hearings in the Bundestag, warnings have already been made that some powers could create problems in terms of the rule of law.
One point truly makes one's skin crawl. If an intelligence officer can secretly interfere with your computer, how will you later prove when and by whom an illegal element was placed on that computer? We are not saying the state will plant evidence. But we have to ask how solid the walls are that will prevent the abuse of such a heavy power. Because today also has a tomorrow. Tomorrow?
The right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is considered certain to come to power in Germany, is at the door.
THE ERA OF BANS
We said the allegations are heavy. It seems that the system is being integrated through the anti-left and anti-immigrant youth on the America-Europe line. The landscape is just as heavy. More powers for the state, more bans under the guise of “security.” Europe, in the shadow of war, is at the crossroads of light and darkness.
For now, the same segments are always in the crosshairs: Leftists. Immigrants. Youth on the street. Why shouldn't it be “you” tomorrow?
By the way, let's not skip... There is also yesterday's photo from Washington. Trump is still president. But the American voter handed a very heavy bill to Trump's Republicans in the midterm elections. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed to the Democrats. In other words, a serious brake is expected on Trump-style racist policies, Israel, and Iran politics by the legislative power in his own country. His prosecution is also possible. What will vassal Europe do in this situation? While this Trump-style security, ban, and anti-immigrant policy is taking a hit in Washington, will its partners in Europe be able to continue walking on the same line?
Will the Washington-Europe line continue to work like clockwork from now on?
It doesn't look like it at all.
IŞIN ERTÜRK - STUTTGART
News Source: 12punto
