Saxony-Anhalt: Migrant associations demand protection from AfD government

Numerous migrant organizations are demanding arrangements from the federal government and federal states in the event of an AfD-led government in Saxony-Anhalt. “In Saxony-Anhalt, for the first time in the coming weeks, a party could co-rule, whose state association is classified by the constitutional protection as secured right-wing extremist,” it says in an open letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the heads of government of the states. “A concept for the protection of people who would be threatened by such a government does not exist to this day.”

The sender of the letter, which was deliberately sent before the Prime Minister’s Conference on Thursday, are the Turkish community in Germany, the Federal Conference of Migrant Organizations, the umbrella organization of migrant organizations in East Germany and the state network of migrant organizations Saxony-Anhalt (Lamsa).

The threat to democracy is on everyone’s lips. The endangerment of people who do not fit into the folkish worldview, on the other hand, is felt above all by those affected themselves, in their everyday life, warn the associations. They refer to Jews and people who are perceived as Muslims, but also Sinti and Roma, queer people and people with a migration history.

“Since the election successes of the AfD, these people and their organizations have experienced rejection and hatred in an intensity that has not existed for a long time,” it continues. Hate mails and threat letters were received at the association’s offices, employees were insulted on the phone and on the street. The Lamsa network has recorded 85 advisory cases on racist threats in the current year alone, more than in the entire previous year. Questions such as: “Will security authorities, whose actions the AfD is politically responsible, come to protect us?”

Specifically, the authors of the letter call for a federal-state commission for the protection of minorities, which should clarify what dangers there could be for people in Saxony-Anhalt by an AfD government, and develop countermeasures. It makes clear in advance how the rule of law reacts when a state government tries to test the limits of the constitution. ‘

In addition, residence requirements are to be lifted, for example for asylum seekers, so that they can move away if they fear racist violence in their place of residence. “A concrete racist, anti-Semitic, anti-Gypsy, anti-Muslim or far-right motivated threat is a hardship case and also allows a change to another federal state.”

In addition, the federal government is to support charitable institutions, associations, advisory centres, municipalities and initiatives that are threatened with racial threats. For example, in the development of emergency concepts or structural measures. As a blueprint, the associations name the 22 million euros that the federal government made available after the attack in Halle 2019 to secure Jewish institutions.

The Basic Law applies in Saxony-Anhalt as everywhere in Germany. For this promise to be fulfilled, precautions are needed before it is put to the test. Set limits and tell today how federal and state governments will enforce them, demand the senders, who ask for a written answer within 14 days.