German intelligence plans closer scrutiny of Covid protesters

A German intelligence agency wants to increase its monitoring of anti-lockdown protesters who are regarded as potential drivers of radicalisation.

Security services in northern Germany say protests linked to Covid-19 are opening the door for extremists with much broader grievances than merely opposing public health measures.

The agency is the latest to voice concern over an eclectic protest movement which includes conspiracy theorists, far-right activists and members of the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

While generally peaceful, the protests have attracted concern because of their links to extremists, cases of anti-Semitic messaging, and ill-judged comparisons between coronavirus policies and the actions of the Nazi regime.

“These demonstrations definitely offer points of contact and there’s always the danger of radicalisation leading all the way to militancy,” said Torsten Voss, head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in the state of Hamburg.

Shedding more light on the extremist protest scene “will be an important focal point of our work”, he told German media as he made the case for closer scrutiny.

Police officers try to stop a demonstration march near the main railway station in Munich, Germany. AP

Politicians have raised concerns over anti-vaccine holdouts as the country races to protect more people against the fast-spreading Omicron variant — which prompted a new set of restrictions for New Year's celebrations.

During the last weekend before Christmas, about 11,000 people protested in Hamburg against a vaccine mandate favoured by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. There were similar demonstrations in other cities.

Despite the protests, Mr Scholz’s government celebrated a success on Sunday when it reached a target of 30 million vaccines administered in December, most of them booster shots.

“We have reached an important milestone,” said Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

One survey suggested that about half of unvaccinated people voted for the AfD in September’s general election, after party leaders fostered doubts about the vaccines. The AfD regards domestic intelligence services as politically motivated.

Another group linked to the protests calls itself Citizens of the Reich, a term referring to pre-1945 Germany that implies rejection of the modern German state.

Authorities in Hamburg said this movement had about 250 members in the city, a sharp rise since before the pandemic.

In a Christmas message, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised a “silent majority” who obeyed restrictions but warned against divisions caused by the pandemic.

“In a democracy, we don’t all have to agree. But let us please remember that we are one country,” he said. “We must be able to look each other in the eye even after the pandemic. And we want to live together even after the pandemic.”

While you're here

National Editorial: Why is a Muslim Brotherhood-linked app still on Apple and Google Play?

Damien McElroy: Europe's response to Islamist extremism is encouraging but not enough

Con Coughlin: How extremists are using Zoom and other tools to exploit this pandemic

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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