On the fourth anniversary of the racist attack in Hanau, the federal anti-discrimination commissioner, Ferda Ataman, made serious accusations about Germany’s treatment of survivors and those affected.
“The state and authorities in our country have a duty to draw conclusions after an attack like the one in Hanau so that such acts do not happen again,” said Ataman of the Funke media group. “Unfortunately, one has to say: Germany has failed in this regard so far.”
In Hanau on February 19, 2020, a 43-year-old German shot nine people for racist motives. He then killed his mother and himself.
Left alone by the state and authorities
According to Ataman, many of those affected and relatives of the attack feel left alone by the state and authorities. There is still no official apology from the Hessian Interior Minister for documented police errors. There is no memorial for the victims in the central market square. Relatives are still being harassed by the perpetrator’s father. She is particularly disappointed that the Democracy Promotion Act – “a central instrument for preventing extremism” – is being delayed. “It’s a disgrace that the FDP is blocking it and calling it a supposedly left-wing ideological project.”
The Democracy Promotion Act is intended to provide clubs and organizations that work to strengthen democracy and prevent extremism with a better financial basis.
Ataman also pointed out the connection between anti-migrant debates and racism. “You can have critical migration debates without making Muslims and migrants scapegoats for the problems in the country. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what happens again and again.”
