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"Unvaccinated" bandage reminiscent of the Jewish star at an anti-corona demo in Berlin (archive image)
Photo: Christophe Gateau / dpa
In the past two years of the corona pandemic, right-wing extremists - but also esoteric, Christian and left-wing extremists - have become strongly radicalized.
In addition to the rejection of corona measures, many were united by the spread of anti-Semitic conspiracy myths about the pandemic.
Thuringia's Minister of the Interior Georg Maier (SPD) has now advocated sharpening the political classification of the "lateral thinker" scene.
Corona deniers must be consistently assigned to the right-wing extremist spectrum, Maier told the editorial network Germany.
"We have to tighten up the classification of politically organized crime, especially with the corona deniers." The scene is politically motivated by a clear right: "It's right-wing extremists who incite it." So-called Reich citizens should also be "consistently assigned to the right-wing spectrum", demanded Maier.
Stars of David with the slogan "unvaccinated" can be seen again and again at demonstrations against the state corona measures.
The measures are often directly compared to the Holocaust.
Both can be prosecuted as hate speech.
New observation object »Enemies of Democracy«
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) and President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution Thomas Haldenwang will present the 2021 Office for the Protection of the Constitution late in the morning.
In it, an observation object newly set up in April last year is listed for the first time.
It is entitled "Delegitimization of the state hostile to democracy and/or a threat to security" and includes at least parts of the corona denier and "lateral thinker" scene.
Haldenwang last presented a situation report on anti-Semitism in April and warned of a further increase in hatred of Jews.
He made a connection both to the corona pandemic and to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.
mrc/AFP