Govt warns against rising xenophobia

Growing xenophobia and rightwing extremism in the ex-communist east of Germany could threaten peace and risk its image as a place to do business, a German government report warns, urging civil society to take a stronger stand against anti-migrant actions, Releasing the report in Berlin, the commissioner for eastern German affairs, Iris Gleicke, said “determined […]

Growing xenophobia and rightwing extremism in the ex-communist east of Germany could threaten peace and risk its image as a place to do business, a German government report warns, urging civil society to take a stronger stand against anti-migrant actions,
Releasing the report in Berlin, the commissioner for eastern German affairs, Iris Gleicke, said “determined action from the government, the states, communes and civil societies is necessary to ensure peace in eastern Germany.”
Attacks were more frequent in eastern German states with 58.7 cases of far right-motivated violence per one million inhabitants last year, compared to the average of 10.5 cases in western German states, the report said.
Gleicke warned that “rightwing extremism in all forms poses a very serious threat to the societal and economic development” in the eastern region of the country
“It’s quite clear that a location that does not show itself to be liberal-minded will face economic disadvantages,” she said.