Leipzig Schools Addressing Individuals Affected by Violence
Discrepancies in Counting Victims of Right-Wing Violence in Leipzig
Since 1990, the city of Leipzig has seen a significant number of victims of right-wing extremist violence. However, official figures and civil society estimates regarding the number of victims in Leipzig show a notable discrepancy.
According to German official statistics and law enforcement records, the number of victims is relatively lower, typically under a hundred, based on prosecuted and inculpated cases. In contrast, civil society organizations, independent researchers, journalists, and victim advocacy groups often report higher figures, including cases that may not have been fully recognized or classified as politically motivated by official bodies.
The discrepancy arises because official data only include cases that have been investigated and proven in court, whereas civil society encompasses a wider range of incidents, including threats, assaults, and societal intimidation linked to right-wing violence.
Research and victim records for Germany overall indicate that official authorities report several hundred victims when including unreported or unofficial cases, while civil society and journalistic investigations often estimate the number to be in the thousands, using broader definitions of violence.
For precise updated figures specific to Leipzig, consulting reports from the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Saxony state crime reports, and local NGOs monitoring right-wing extremism (such as the Amadeu Antonio Foundation) is recommended.
The city administration in Leipzig is currently researching the life stories of victims of right-wing violence in the city. The project, titled "Invisible Scars," aims to remember the victims of right-wing violence and eventually become a part of the city's culture of remembrance. The project could take the form of project days or weeks, with students from various schools participating.
The focus of the research is on understanding the backgrounds and motives of the acts, as well as developing forms of remembrance. The project is expected to increase awareness about the victims of right-wing violence among students in Leipzig in the coming school year.
Sadly, at least ten people who were of migrant origin, homosexual, or homeless have been killed in Leipzig and its surrounding area due to right-wing violence since reunification. Notable cases include the death of Kamal Kilade, a 19-year-old who was stabbed to death by neo-Nazis in front of the Leipzig main station in 2010, and André Kleinau, a homeless individual who was beaten to death by five juveniles in Oschatz in May 2011.
The city council passed a resolution in June 2020 to ensure a worthy remembrance of the victims in various forms, with the Left Party submitting the application. The "Initiative Antirassism," founded in 2010, has been researching and raising awareness about past cases of right-wing violence in Leipzig.
The project "Invisible Scars" aims to learn from the stories of the victims for the present, and it is not predetermined in its specific participation by schools and students. The project is expected to contribute significantly to increasing awareness and understanding of right-wing violence in Leipzig.
- The discrepancy in reporting right-wing violence victims in Leipzig extends to general news, education-and-self-development, and crime-and-justice media, as the numbers presented by official bodies often differ greatly from those reported by civil society organizations.
- Despite the ongoing efforts by civil society organizations and the Leipzig city administration to increase awareness about the victims of right-wing violence in education and self-development programs, the politics surrounding the reporting and recognition of such incidents continue to pose challenges in obtaining accurate figures and fostering a comprehensive understanding of the issue.
