Neukölln in visual focus: Fighting against right-wing violence and discrimination!

Neukölln in visual focus: Fighting against right-wing violence and discrimination!

The debate about the rise of right-wing extremism in Neukölln is getting louder. A recently published document, the first of its format since the request by the district council in 2017, comprehensively addresses this issue. The report, which runs to 60 pages, lists 208 right-wing crimes recorded by the police and a further 400 offenses recorded in an independent register. Sarah Nagel, youth city councilor and left-wing politician, emphasizes that the Neukölln district office takes the dangers of right-wing extremism seriously. But the report was removed from the internet shortly after its publication because there were legal concerns about naming the AfD, which highlighted additional potential for conflict.

Reporting on right-wing extremist activities is not only a current issue, but also has historical roots that go back to the experiences of families like that of the author in the left-wing publication Jacobin. This family describes the challenges of their life in Germany over two generations, including hostility from extreme right-wing groups such as the AfD, NPD and DVU. For example, the author mentions the tragic fates of Luke Holland and Burak Bektaş, who came from the neighborhood and lost their lives due to right-wing violence.

Dealing with right-wing extremism in Neukölln

Sarah Nagel's report highlights the ongoing threat posed by neo-Nazis and right-wing extremist criminals, while praising civil society for its tireless commitment to combating these threats. At a time when pressure is growing on the district office from the CDU, which sees “left-wing extremist demands” in the report, Nagel reiterates the relevance of naming the AfD as an important measure to combat right-wing extremism. This assessment is also reflected in the three guiding principles of an anti-fascist neighborhood policy, as they emerge from the Jacobin publication: the organization of people, the creation of spaces for education and encounters, and the building of defensive collectives.

However, the debate about the political relevance and actions of the AFD is being intensively discussed not only by the left, but also by other political movements. It is an area of ​​tension in which different interests and opinions about the right way to deal with right-wing extremism emerge. Mayor Martin Hikel and other members of the district office have expressed different views on the legal aspects of the report.

Social challenges and anti-fascist strategies

The Jacobin article calls for an actionable anti-fascist strategy based on an in-depth analysis of the social, economic and political conditions that favor the shift to the right. While social hardship is often seen as an attribution for right-wing thinking, the author warns against making overly simplistic assumptions. Rather, it must be clear that ideologies are actively produced and communicated and do not simply arise as a reaction to material conditions. The resistance, as shown in Riesa, explains that successful anti-fascism must be rooted in the self-organization and solidarity mobilization of society.

The current discussions and reports make it clear that the topic of right-wing extremism is not only important locally in Neukölln, but also internationally. The experiences of migrants in Germany and the demands for better economic and social conditions must be part of a comprehensive anti-fascist strategy to combat the dangers of right-wing radicalism.