Escalation of criminal activities by far-right extremists in Germany
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, located in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, plays a significant role in ensuring security and combating right-wing extremism in Germany. This German intelligence agency, responsible only for domestic matters, is tasked with monitoring individuals who are against freedom and democracy.
Right-wing extremists in Germany often hold beliefs that not all people should have the same rights. They may consider Germans superior to foreigners, or Christians superior to Jews or Muslims. These beliefs have led to physical attacks and other offenses, with approximately 34,000 right-wing extremist criminal offenses reported to the police by late November.
The domestic intelligence agency is involved in combating right-wing extremism, but it is not mentioned as having a role in combating left-wing extremism. Last year, Germany's Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, proposed measures to better combat right-wing extremism, including increased intervention by the domestic intelligence agency when prohibited content is discovered online.
Measures to combat right-wing extremism in Germany also include preventive measures to address the root causes of violence and protect victims. Ario Mirzaie, spokesperson for the Green Party faction on strategies against right-wing extremism in Berlin, emphasized the importance of such measures, warning against planned funding cuts for programs against right-wing extremism, racism, and antisemitism. He considered these programs crucial for documenting right-wing crimes and supporting mobile counseling against right-wing extremism and anti-racist advice centers.
It's important to note that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is not involved in combating left-wing extremism in Germany. The German intelligence agency for foreign matters is the Federal Intelligence Service (BND).
Germany has several right-wing extremist parties, and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution searches for terrorists among them. The office's work is crucial in maintaining a peaceful and democratic society in Germany.
