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Horst Seehofer warns against "brutalization of our society"

2019-11-03T23:25:46.938Z


The Green politicians Cem Özdemir and Claudia Roth are apparently on a death list of right-wing extremists. Federal Interior Minister Seehofer sees this as a symptom of a higher degree of violence.



In view of the death threats against the Green politicians Cem Özdemir and Claudia Roth, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) warned against an increase in violence and intimidation attempts in public discussion. "Generally speaking, we are experiencing a highly problematic brutalization of our society," Seehofer told the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

At the weekend it had become known that Özdemir and Roth are being threatened with death by a right-wing extremist network classified as dangerous. The newspapers of the Funke media group had quoted on Saturday from threatening mails of the group "nuclear weapons division Germany (AWD)" to the two Green politicians. Ozdemir was told that his name was at the top of the death list. According to Roth, the group wrote: "They are currently in second place on our shooting list."

A right-wing extremist group "Nuclear Weapons Division" (AWD) is known in the US. There she is considered extremely violent. For several months, the evidence of a German branch of the organization piling up.

More about SPIEGEL +

Right-Wing US GroupThus, the neo-Nazi cell "Nuclear Weapons Division" is ticking

Greens boss Annalena Baerbock said that society should not get used to the almost daily threats. "We must stand up for the rule of law and democracy together, with all our strength against hatred, especially for those who have no protection," she wrote on Twitter.

Roth: "Long list of attempted intimidation"

Roth told the spark newspapers: "The threat may be directed against Cem and me this time, but it joins a long list of attempted intimidation - against local politicians and civil society, against Jews and Muslims, against women artists and immigrants." And further: "Who believes, to dissuade us with his dull hatred and his blind historical hate from the commitment to a diverse and cosmopolitan society, which I must bitterly disappoint."

Özdemir told the newspapers: "I can count on escort protection by the BKA, but what about all the local politicians and the volunteers who are being attacked and have no personal protection?"

For that, I even like to go to the office on Saturday: bulging signature folders with lawsuits against German and Turkish fanatics for threats, slander or insults. #democratic democracy #noafd #noakp pic.twitter.com/roasHe4rJk

- Cem Özdemir (@cem_oezdemir) 2 November 2019

On Twitter Özdemir published a photo of himself, on which he apparently signed criminal charges. He wrote: "I even like to go to the office on Saturday: bulging signature folders with criminal charges against German and Turkish fanatics for threats, slander or insults."

Künast: Quickly implement government plan against right-wing extremism

Last week, the German government announced that it would respond to the right wing violence of the past few months with stricter penalties, more authorities' powers and a reporting obligation for criminal content on the Internet. The plan also provides for better protection for local politicians. In June, the Kassel government president Walter Lübcke (CDU) was murdered. Stephan E., who was known to the authorities years ago as a right-wing extremist, sits in this case as the main suspect in custody.

Politicians from various parties now demand that the government's plan against right-wing extremism and hate crime be swiftly implemented. The Green politician Renate Künast said the "world": "It would be even better if it would soon become laws, and most beautiful, if they would soon be applied."

Union Fractional Leader Thorsten Frei told the newspaper: "We will now do everything to ensure that it is passed quickly by Parliament." The CDU politician demanded beyond the government plan, more powers for the security authorities in the digital space. "We can not make our authorities in the network deaf and blind and at the same time believe that we will succeed in the fight against organized extremism."

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2019-11-03

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