Tiktoker Abdelhamid: Donation fraud trial begins in Düsseldorf

Tiktoker Abdelhamid: Donation fraud trial begins in Düsseldorf

A spectacular trial is currently underway in Düsseldorf against Dehran A., better known by his name as the Islamist influencer “Abdelhamid”. The 34-year-old, who is highly popular in the social media world with hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram, is accused of being involved in a massive gang fraud and money laundering. The allegations relate to almost 500,000 euros, which he is said to have collected for alleged humanitarian purposes, but used a significant amount for personal purposes. At least that's what the Düsseldorf regional court says, which opened the trial on June 24, 2025, as tagesschau.de reports.

Dehran A. has been in custody since October 2024. He and his 33-year-old partner, who is also charged, are accused of organizing fundraising appeals for aid projects and children in need over a period of three years. To put it more simply, the two are said to have pocketed the money they collected. During searches in October 2024, luxury watches, handbags and a high-quality Mercedes were confiscated in addition to more than 20,000 euros in cash. Pretty nice, huh?

Complex allegations and a complicated defense

The indictment includes 37 counts of commercial and gang fraud. However, Dehran A. also has a planned escape: He wanted to flee to Dubai last year, which was not lost on the court. However, the accusation of gang formation remains controversial. The court expressed doubts as to whether a gang actually existed in the legal sense, which may also benefit the defendant, as stern.de highlights. A defense attorney has already announced confessions that are expected at the next trial day on July 16, 2025.

The allegations are not the only thing that concerns the public security authorities: the NRW Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies Dehran A.'s worldview as extremist-Salafist. In Germany, the Islamist potential is estimated at around 28,280 people, with Salafism being the largest Islamist movement with 11,000 people. There is a violence-oriented potential of 9,540 people who support or advocate violent and extremist behavior, as the Verfassungsschutzstelle explains in detail.

Security situation and a growing problem

The security situation in Germany is tense. The threat of Islamist terrorism is still high, and recent events in the past - from knife attacks to assassinations - underline the concerns of security authorities. The danger is further exacerbated by returnees from crisis areas such as Syria and Iraq, many of whom have military training or combat experience.

It remains to be seen whether Dehran A. and his partner will feel the full consequences of their actions. At least the court appears prepared to offer the defendant a three-year prison sentence if he confesses, while his partner could possibly get away with a suspended sentence. The next few days of negotiations will show whether the couple is actually ready to take responsibility.