On May 21, German officials revealed that the number of politically motivated crimes recorded in 2023 rose to a new high and is likely to continue to increase.
The news comes after Germany saw a series of violent attacks on political activists supporting parties ahead of European Parliament elections in June. It also comes at a time when anti-Semitic attacks have increased amid renewed conflict in the Middle East.
Crime motivated by right-wing ideology increased by almost 25% in 2023. Photo: Jens Büttner
Politically motivated crimes have nearly doubled in the past 10 years, with 60,028 cases recorded, the highest number since data was first compiled in 2001, said Holger Munch, head of Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).
The increase compared to 2022 was less than 2% but is still seen as part of a growing trend in politically motivated crimes.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said: "These are actions that go against our open and free society, often against human dignity and against our democracy."
The minister highlighted the growing violence against politicians, calling for action to “counter threats and violence” through swifter and more significant penalties.
Anti-Semitic incidents since October 7 and the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza have contributed to the rise in politically motivated violence in Germany.
“October 7 was a profound turning point for Jews, as well as in Germany,” said Ms. Faeser, noting that anti-Semitic crimes stood at 5,146, nearly double the previous year.
The figures come after a series of attacks on politicians in recent weeks amid growing polarisation in Germany, including one that left a member of the European Parliament in hospital with serious injuries.
According to figures from the German Interior Ministry, crimes motivated by right-wing ideology increased by 23.21% compared to 2022, with 28,945 crimes recorded, mainly crimes of propaganda, property damage, insults, incitement to hatred, coercion or intimidation and violations of assembly rules.
Crimes motivated by left-wing ideologies also spiked in 2023, up 11.48%, with a total of 7,777 recorded crimes. Meanwhile, violent crimes motivated by right-wing or left-wing ideologies rose almost equally in 2023, up 8.55% and 8.79%, respectively.
Ngoc Anh (according to DW)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/toi-pham-co-dong-co-chinh-tri-o-duc-tang-vot-vao-nam-2023-post296438.html
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