Attacks on civil society: from haters and agitators

Hatred, agitation and violence: Volunteers, rescue workers, local politicians, firefighters and also police officers have to endure verbal and physical attacks more and more frequently.

As early as the summer of 2020, the Hessian state parliament heard the extent of the attacks on civil society and the public service during a hearing.

On Wednesday, the parliamentarians spoke out across political groups in favor of fighting the causes and symptoms more strongly.

There was no consensus on guilt and appropriate steps to take.

"During the hearing, we heard many stories and experiences from people who one would not want to believe," said Hesse's Interior Minister Peter Beuth (CDU). This must encourage the state parliament to act. The state government has already initiated a lot and has been investing in the protective equipment of the emergency services for years. Before the end of this week, Beuth announced that it would be decided to pay an attack compensation of 2,000 euros for employees who are attacked while on duty as representatives of the state, adding that this also applies to volunteer firefighters and municipal elected officials. "This is a clear sign of appreciation for those who turn their heads for all of us," said the interior minister. He also pleaded for a further tightening of the penalties. "Anyone who attacks our emergency servicesattacks our rule of law. That must be properly punished, ”said Beuth.

Investigation refused

In the opinion of Günter Rudolph, parliamentary manager of the SPD parliamentary group, this is precisely the consequence. Rudolph cited terrifying examples in which the SPD had filed criminal charges. An e-mail called for the destruction of the SPD. "A lying Sozen pack, in 1933 half of the Sozen defected to the NSDAP, cannibalized Social Democrats," said Rudolph in the mail, among other things. The initiation of a preliminary investigation was rejected despite a criminal complaint with reference to freedom of expression. “I expect a slightly different approach from the judiciary. Here, too, sensitization is necessary, because that does not strengthen trust in the rule of law, ”said the Social Democrat angrily. "The people killed in Hanau were themselves the triggering cause of this act of violence,which the public prosecutor has also confirmed. Pity not in the slightest, ”he read from another hate mail. In this case too, the Wiesbaden public prosecutor's office refused to initiate investigative proceedings after the criminal complaint was reported. “I don't understand that,” he said.

"Hatred and agitation as well as conspiracy theorists continue to do mischief," complained Rudolph.

The SPD therefore calls for the expansion of political education, democracy education and school social work as well as a Hessian democracy promotion law.

Rudolph announced that the SPD would demand a chair for racism in the budget consultations.

Name the causes

The increasing violence against civil society is an attack on democracy itself, said Lukas Schauder from the Greens. The left called for the causes to be identified. "Anyone who claims that agitation, threats and violence primarily affects representatives of the state and does not even address the radical and militant political right as the main culprit has still not understood the problems or does not want to understand them," he said domestic policy spokesman Torsten Felstehausen convinced.

The AfD, in turn, demanded the “full severity of the law” in the event of violence against employees in the public service. “In around 75 percent of the cases, the perpetrators are male, between 21 and 30 years old and often have a migration background. That is a sad fact, "said parliamentary group leader Robert Lambrou to interviews with police officers, referring to a study by the German Association of Officials.

The FDP is calling for a study commission to bundle existing preventive programs and measures.

Stefan Müller, domestic policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, expressed the fear that the corona pandemic could increase the potential for violence against members of civil society.

Astrid Wallmann from the CDU recalled that an online reporting office was set up in January last year, where those affected can report and display hateful comments quickly and unbureaucratically.

In cooperation with the Central Office for Combating Internet Crime, effective criminal prosecution is guaranteed.