In the current political discussion surrounding the topic of migration, violence perpetrated by refugees against Germans plays the main role. However, crime statistics also show how often refugees experience violence at the hands of people from the right-wing political spectrum. According to research by the “Mediendienst Integration” (Integration Media Service), there were 2,488 politically motivated attacks on refugees in 2023. The figures had risen by 75 percent compared to the previous year (1,420 attacks). 321 of these acts were violent crimes, and 219 people were injured. In addition, there were 179 attacks on refugee shelters. Almost 90 percent of the crimes were attributed to right-wing extremists. The last time the figures were as high as this was in 2016; since then, the numbers were significantly lower. For 2024, there are only preliminary figures so far: 1,905 politically motivated crimes against refugees and 218 against refugee shelters have been registered so far, with more expected to be reported.
Muslims are also increasingly the target of attacks: in 2023, the police recorded 1,464 anti-Islamic crimes. The number had more than doubled compared to the previous year. Eighty-three percent of the crimes were committed by people with right-wing political views.
Low police clearance rate and court rulings
Many attacks on refugees and refugee shelters go unsolved: in 2024, the police were unable to identify suspects in around 71 percent of attacks.
A research project by Südwestrundfunk and Bayerischer Rundfunk shows that attacks on refugee shelters are rarely prosecuted: According to the study, the authorities registered a total of 2,558 politically motivated attacks on asylum shelters between 2015 and 2018. Convictions were handed down in only 206 cases.
Sources: Media Service Integration | Racism
and Media Service Integration | Muslims are threatened in everyday life
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