“The reality in the German Democratic Republic is that people of a different skin color, of a different faith or of a different nationality cannot feel safe anywhere in this country,” said Paul Spiegel, chairman of the Central Council of German Jews. He said that it is “open season” on minorities and foreigners in Germany’s streets. Spiegel blames all German political bodies for their minimizing the seriousness of the threat posed by rising xenophobic violence – a threat, he says, which is greater than any posed by Nazism since the end of World War II.
Xenophobic violence in Germany has increased during the past year after a drop throughout the 1990’s. There were 16,000 hate crimes committed in 2000, as opposed to 10,000 in 1999.
Xenophobic violence in Germany has increased during the past year after a drop throughout the 1990’s. There were 16,000 hate crimes committed in 2000, as opposed to 10,000 in 1999.