Germany: Arab-Israeli Activist Ahmad Mansour Awarded Order of Merit

Ahmad Mansour is a psychologist and book author of Arab-Israeli origin who has been living in Germany for 18 years. For his work against radicalization and antisemitism in the Muslim community he just received Germany’s highest honor.

Berlin, July 8th, 2022 (The Berlin Spectator) — The Order of Merit (‘Bundesverdienstkreuz’ in German) is the only federal decoration Germany has. It is being given to people for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellectual or honorary fields. Today, Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey awarded it to none other than Ahmad Mansour on behalf of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Salafism and Oppression

Born in Kfar Saba in Israel in 1976, Mansour almost became an Islamist because of the influence a fundamentalist Imam had on him. His psychology studies helped him get away from this ideology. After he witnessed an Islamist terror attack, he moved to Germany in 2004. In 2017, Mansour was naturalized in the Federal Republic. Since he arrived, he has been active in initiatives that deal with Salafism, antisemitism, oppression and other problems in Germany’s large Muslim community. He pleads for a reform and modernization of Islam.

Mansour was “an expert in the area of Islamism who uses his knowledge in multiple ways for the greater good of our society”, Franziska Giffey stated. He took a stand for integration and was a fighter against antisemitism while he promoted equality. Because of his experience as an Israeli Palestinian he was credible, the Governing Mayor said. The approach Ahmad Mansour was taking in his valued work included respectful and constructive discussions, Mrs. Griffey said at a ceremony at Red City Hall.

Intercultural Competence

She also praised Mansour’s work for Berlin. From 2007 to 2016, he had worked with young male Muslims for the social project HEROES in the Rollberg neighborhood in the capital’s Neukölln district. Franziska Griffey herself used to be District Mayor there. Mansour discussed things some people in Berlin did not want to hear, the Mayor stated.

For Berlin’s State Office of Criminal Investigations, Mansour was a partner with “intercultural competence”, Franziska Giffey added. The Order of Merit honored him “for his commitment to integration in a free, democratic and safe society”. He was “a Berliner we are very proud of”. Ahmad Mansour himself said it was important to follow core values even though it was not easy.

Police Protection

Because of his fight against terror and antisemitism, Mansour receives threats from radical Muslims all the time. For that reason, the state provides police protection for him 24/7. In the past years, he got numerous awards and published four books. His wife and child were present at the ceremony in Berlin.

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