Right-wing violence | Right-wing violence: "The disinhibition is clearly noticeable"

In 2024, the counseling centers Opferberatung Rheinland (OBR) and BackUp in Dortmund recorded a new record: 526 cases of right-wing, racist, anti-Semitic, or otherwise misanthropic violence were documented – an increase of approximately 48 percent compared to the previous year. At least 728 people were directly affected, plus 40 indirectly affected. Fabian Reeker, project manager at OBR, speaks of a "frightening peak in right-wing violence" in North Rhine-Westphalia and an "extremely worrying development."

Every 17 hours, someone in North Rhine-Westphalia falls victim to right-wing violence. Particularly shocking: Never since monitoring began have there been as many fatalities as in 2024. Eight people died last year as a result of attacks. "Homicides are an expression of maximum escalation – they make it clear that right-wing violence in North Rhine-Westphalia is life-threatening," says Sabrina Hosono of the OBR.

Not only are there more attacks, but they are also becoming more brutal. 265 physical assaults, twelve arson attacks, and numerous targeted attacks on particularly vulnerable groups such as the homeless have been documented. "The uninhibited nature of right-wing violence is clearly noticeable to our counselors," reports Lara Çelikel of the OBR. Thomas Billstein of BackUp observes "uninhibited violence, which often goes unsolved, particularly in attacks on the homeless. For example, people have been brutally attacked and set on fire while they were sleeping."

The perpetrators knowingly accept the risk of serious injury or death—or even aim for it. The social impact of these acts is enormous, according to counseling centers. Racism remains the most common motive. Particularly affected are people perceived as Muslim and Black people.

The number of antisemitic attacks has also increased. "For years, we have observed that antisemitic violence is increasing both in frequency and in its uninhibited nature – and is no longer just a marginal phenomenon. The figures for 2024 show: antisemitism is violent, structural, and deeply rooted in society," explains Katherina Savchenka of the OBR.

Attacks against political opponents and LGBTIQ+ people also remain at a high level. Particularly worrying is that in urban areas like Cologne, the attacks focus on visible diversity and self-determination. "The perpetrators don't just want to hurt people. They also want to make spaces unsafe," says Hannah Richardy of the OBR.

Most attacks occur in public spaces – on the streets, in buses, trains, or at demonstrations. Victims report that they often receive no support from passersby. "This intensifies the feeling of powerlessness and helplessness, even beyond the attack itself. Victims feel unsafe for a long time – even in crowded places," explains Eileen Beyer of BackUp. Many withdraw from social life. This lack of civic courage has far-reaching consequences: "It undermines trust in social solidarity and normalizes racist, anti-Semitic, and extreme right-wing violence as a part of public life," Beyer continues.

Counseling centers document significantly more cases than the authorities: While the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution counted only 154 right-wing violent crimes and 83 threats for 2024, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and BackUp counted 526 cases. Fabian Reeker criticizes the repeated failure of self-reported violent crimes "in which there are clear indications of a right-wing motive" to be included in the police statistics on "politically motivated crime - right" (PMK right), which is "not only a recording deficit, but a systematic concealment of the actual extent of right-wing, racist, and anti-Semitic violence."

He therefore demands: "North Rhine-Westphalia must provide reliable and long-term funding for specialized victim counseling centers and structurally strengthen civil society contact points – not as part of project funding, but as a state obligation." Sabrina Hosono emphasizes: "What is needed now is not only a clear political demarcation from the right, but also active solidarity and a political alternative: protection, support, and a policy that is consistently oriented towards the rights and perspectives of those affected by right-wing incitement."