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Interior Minister Faeser: Clear words on the behaviour of the Federal Government at the beginning of the nineties

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Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa

On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the arson attack in Solingen, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser denounced the then federal government for failings in the fight against right-wing extremism at the beginning of the nineties. The attack did not come out of nowhere, the SPD politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group.

"After the right-wing extremist riots in Rostock-Lichtenhagen and Hoyerswerda, after the assassination attempt in Mölln only shortly before, the then federal government did not act with all clarity and clarity to stop the murderous right-wing extremism," said Faeser. The federal government at the time did nothing to counter the hatred, did not draw a red line. "Debates have been carried out with slogans such as 'the boat is full' on the backs of people. And after these acts, there was also a lack of compassion, empathy and care for the victims at the top of the federal government. This is still shameful for the German state today."

After the attack in Mölln in November 1992, for example, the then Chancellor Helmut Kohl (CDU) did not attend the funeral service. At the time, his spokesman referred to the chancellor's "God knows other important appointments" and spoke of "condolence tourism".

On May 29, 1993, right-wing extremists set fire to the house of the Genç family in Solingen. The Genç couple lost two daughters, two granddaughters and a niece in the racist attack. 17 family members were seriously injured. To this day, the attack is considered one of the most serious racist crimes in the Federal Republic.

Shortly after the crime, four young Solingen men between the ages of 16 and 23 were arrested. They came from the right-wing scene and were convicted of murder in 1995. On Monday, the 30th anniversary of the arson attack, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) are expected in Solingen.

»Protecting people is our most important task«

The lessons from the attack could not be more timely, Faeser said. "Today it is very clear to us that right-wing extremism is the greatest extremist threat to our democracy – and to people in our country." The number of right-wing extremist acts of violence rose again by twelve percent last year. Above all, attacks on refugees have increased. "That's why we're acting with the utmost determination. Prevention and toughness are at the core of my strategy against right-wing extremism," said the Minister of the Interior.

According to Faeser, this includes well-equipped and extremely vigilant security authorities on the one hand and a vibrant and diverse civil society on the other. "And this includes, above all, unlike in 1993: empathy for those affected by right-wing extremist violence. It's about people, protecting them is our most important task."

FDI/DPA