Angela Merkel: ‘No excuse’ for far-right violence at demonstrations
German Chancellor hits out after Nazi sympathisers join 'hateful' protests in which refugees are targeted and a Jewish shop attacked
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has condemned recent anti-migrant demonstrations as “hateful”, saying there is “no excuse” for expressions of hate, Nazi sympathies or violence.
She was speaking after the killing of a German man – for which an Iraqi and a Syrian have been arrested – prompted days of anti-migrant protests in the eastern German city of Chemnitz that at times turned violent.
Neo-Nazis were seen giving Hitler salutes in the largest demonstration, the day after the killing, which attracted 6,000 people, and on the sidelines of the protest masked men threw stones and bottles at a kosher restaurant yelling “Jewish pig, get out of Germany”.
The day before, in spontaneous protests by hundreds immediately after the killing, several foreigners were attacked and injured in the streets.
Mrs Merkel assured legislators that her government is equally aware of its responsibility to take the wider concerns of the public seriously, and that it is working with “all resolution” on the issue.
“We are especially troubled by the severe crimes in which the alleged perpetrators were asylum-seekers,” she said.
“This shocks us… such crimes must be investigated, the perpetrators have to be taken to court and punished with the severity of the law.”
But she said the concerns were “no excuse” for the demonstrations that followed the killing in Chemnitz.
She dismissed as semantics an argument over whether the foreigners were “hunted” in the streets by protesters, condemning the demonstrations as “hateful”.
“There is no excuse or justification for hate, for the use of violence by some, Nazi symbols, hostility against people who look different, the occupation of a Jewish restaurant, attacks on police – and heated debates about whether it’s hate or a hunt don’t help,” she said to applause.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
