BERLIN

Germany announced on Tuesday new measures to combat racism and right-wing extremism. 

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told a news conference in Berlin that right-wing extremism is today “the greatest threat” to democratic order in Germany.

“We want to use all the instruments of the rule of law to protect our democracy. We want to dismantle right-wing extremist networks, cut their finances, and take away their weapons,” she said.

Faeser underlined that the recently leaked plans of the far-right AfD party has demonstrated how serious the threat has become for the country.

“If right-wing extremist networks, with the participation of AfD and the Identitarian Movement members, plan the mass expulsion of people from our country because of their ethnic origin, this is an attack on our democracy, and it once again shows that right-wing extremism remains the greatest threat,” she said.

The Social Democrat politician said, in recent years right-wing extremists committed more than 20,000 criminal and violent acts, and promised that the government will take stronger measures in countering far-right groups and movements.

“Many people are afraid of becoming the target of such an attack Jews, Muslims, more than 20 million people in our country who have a history of immigration,” Faser said.

“Unfortunately this fear is very real, as people start to ask themselves whether they are still safe in Germany. We can have only one answer to this: We will protect you, we stand by your side,” she added.

According to government’s plan, German authorities to take new measures to cut financial sources of right-wing extremist groups, by closer cooperation among police, domestic intelligence agency BfV and finance institutions.

Right-wing extremists within the police, armed forces and public service staff will be dismissed faster, thanks to new disciplinary rules and procedures that will come into force in April.

The government is also planning to tighten the country’s gun laws to prevent right-wing extremists from getting weapons.

With the planned amendment, members of an organization which is monitored by the domestic intelligence agency for suspected far-right activities will not be able to get gun permits. Previously acquired firearms licenses of right-wing extremists will be revoked. Semi-automatic weapons will be banned.

In 2022, right-wing extremists committed 23,493 crimes and carried out 1,170 violent attacks targeting migrants, refugees, or political opponents. At least 675 people were injured in those attacks.

In 2019, right-wing extremists killed a pro-refugee politician in Kassel and attacked a synagogue in Halle, raising alarms over far-right terror in the country.

In February 2020, a far-right extremist stormed two cafes in Hanau and shot dead nine people with migrant backgrounds.

At least 219 people have been killed in Germany by neo-Nazi violence since 1989, according to the human rights organization Amadeu Antonio Foundation.