Bautzen in the fight against right-wing extremism: an official reports on TV!

Bautzen in the fight against right-wing extremism: an official reports on TV!

In recent years, right-wing extremism in Germany, particularly in Bautzen, has reached worrying proportions. Birgit Kieschnick, a city official, describes in a new ARTE documentary how often she is confronted with anti-Semitic and extremist slogans. “I encounter right-wing hatred everywhere here,” she explains, emphasizing that social cohesion in her region is increasingly at risk. Freenet reports on Kieschnick's commitment to combating this worrying development, which not only affects her but also many of her fellow citizens.

A particularly tragic incident that illustrates the gap between different social classes is the right-wing extremist terrorist attack in Hanau on February 19, 2020. On that terrible evening, the perpetrator murdered nine people with a migrant background, which is not only seen as a crime against humanity, but also as a clear sign of the burgeoning hatred in society. Serpil Unvar, the mother of one of the victims, founded an initiative that campaigns against right-wing extremism and aims to prevent future attacks. Despite harassment from the perpetrator's father, she remains in Hanau. Its mission is to keep the memory of the victims alive and to draw attention to the dangers of extremism. daily news

Right-wing extremism in focus

The increase in anti-Semitism and right-wing extremist tendencies confirms the depressing developments in the country. In the 2025 federal election, the AfD achieved an impressive 48.3 percent of the vote in Bautzen, which provoked many critical voices from society. Kieschnick often feels alone in the fight against these ideologies and reports anonymous threatening letters that she regularly receives. However, these attacks on their person are not the only challenges that engaged citizens face. Kristoffer Goldsmith, a US veteran, has exposed neo-Nazis online and is also facing threats against his family. His experiences and the lack of response by law enforcement to such threats raise worrying questions, with even lawyer Amy Spitalnick expressing clear concerns about security in the country and the lack of political support in the fight against extremism.

A particular focus is on the events in Hanau, which affected not only the local community but the entire country. When dealing with the attack, serious shortcomings on the part of the authorities have become apparent. Relatives of the victims, such as Niculescu Păun, the father of one of the murdered men, were unable to receive justice because the public prosecutor's office rejected new investigations. Reports of a locked emergency exit during the attack have sparked a storm of outrage and cast a poor light on police security measures. Many of the victims' relatives are demanding legal clarification and have no plans to surrender - even to the European Court of Human Rights.

The role of the public

Right-wing extremism and its various facets are visible in society. Organizations like “Combat 18” or the “White Wolves Terror Crew” are just some of the groups that have been banned but are still active in secret. Protection of the Constitution informs about these developments and warns of the dangers posed by extremist ideologies. The public display and use of prohibited signs is not just a legal issue, it is also a social challenge that leads many committed citizens to advocate for tolerance and diversity.

The three-part documentary “World White Hate”, which will be broadcast on ARTE today at 8:15 p.m., takes on this topic and illuminates the fight against right-wing extremism in a powerful way. It is an urgently needed step to open society's eyes and show where hatred and intolerance can lead. For many, the exchange and sharing of experiences is a ray of hope in an often gloomy everyday life.