Decline in crimes against refugees: A glimmer of hope for Brandenburg?

Decline in crimes against refugees: A glimmer of hope for Brandenburg?

In 2023, a worrying trend emerged that affects the safety of refugees in Germany. In the first quarter, 42 crimes against refugees and refugee accommodation were registered in Brandenburg. This corresponds to a significant decrease compared to 2022, in which 87 crimes were counted. Nevertheless, SPD member of the state parliament Andreas Noack expressed concern about this number and noted that every single act constitutes a human rights violation. The overall decline in refugees in the region could influence this trend, but the overall situation remains tense. South German newspaper further reports that the overall number of politically motivated, right-wing crimes in Brandenburg remains worryingly high at 796 cases.

The main crimes recorded statistically are insults, threats and physical attacks. Cases of property damage and arson were also reported. The situation in German refugee accommodation remains tense: in 2024, attacks on these facilities rose to 218, compared to 167 in the previous year. In these cases, 28 violent crimes were recorded, of which 14 people were injured, including a child. daily news points out that these figures could probably increase due to subsequent reports.

Racism as a background

The roots of these violent acts can often be found in deeply rooted racist and right-wing extremist attitudes. The Federal Agency for Civic Education describes anti-refugee acts of violence as both physical and psychological attacks against refugees, which are usually based on a feeling of threat and false information dissemination. This violence has changed over the years, and the stigmatization of refugees as “other” has continued to play a toxic role in social discourse.

A look at the historical data shows that the years in which the number of refugees in Germany rose sharply were often accompanied by an increase in anti-refugee violence. 2015 marked a sad high point when police registered 94 cases of arson against asylum centers. In comparison, reporting on violence against refugees has fallen steadily since 2018, which means that right-wing narratives continue to be negated and trivialized.

The fight against the right

Even though the numbers in Brandenburg fell in the last quarter, the call for vigilance remains. Local politics, represented by Noack, a member of the state parliament, calls for a safe Brandenburg for all people, regardless of their origin. These voices must remain audible within society in order to prevent a further decline in acceptance of refugees and to stop the dynamics of right-wing extremist violence. Social acceptance of anti-refugee attitudes must be questioned and decisively combated.

The numbers may vary, but the principles of humanity should remain unshakable. This makes it all the more important to work against any form of discrimination and to focus on protecting refugees.