Steep Drop in Refugee-Related Crimes in Brandenburg, But Concerns Remain
Reduction in reported felonies perpetrated against refugee populations thus far - Decrease in Criminal Acts towards Refugees Reported So Far
There's some good news for refugees in Brandenburg - the number of crimes against them and their accommodations decreased significantly in the first quarter of the year. According to state parliamentarian Andreas Noack's questioning of the government, there were only 42 reported incidents from January to March, contrasted with 87 incidents in the same period last year.
However, these crimes mostly comprise hostile acts like insults, threats, and propaganda offenses, as well as instances involving property damage, arson, and bodily injury. Noack, an MP from the SPD party, emphasizes that while the numbers are lower, they still represent unacceptable human rights violations.
Interestingly, it's important to consider the reduced number of refugees admitted to Brandenburg.
The concerning high total of right-wing motivated crimes in Brandenburg, reportedly 796 in the first quarter of 2025, is primarily attributed to the dissemination and use of propaganda materials and symbols of unconstitutional organizations, along with hate speech and hate crimes. Additionally, 19 politically right-wing motivated acts of violence were recorded in the first quarter, including one investigation by the Federal ProsecutorGeneral into a suspected right-wing extremist terror cell in Altdöbern, Oberspreewald-Lausitz.
Regrettably, incidents of hate and violence persist across Brandenburg and neighboring districts. For instance, a man wearing a kippah was attacked in Oranienburg, and two individuals allegedly assaulted a dark-skinned man in Bad Saarow. In a more recent event, an alternative youth club in Senftenberg was attacked with stones.
Politician Noack has expressed concern due to the growing intensity of hatred, as demonstrated by recent violent incidents in Bad Freienwalde, where masked individuals violently attacked a peace demonstration against the right. Brandenburg, Noack emphasizes, must remain a safe haven for everyone, regardless of their origin, skin color, or advocacy for refugees. This includes open dissociation from right-wing extremist forces in the political sphere.
- The steep drop in refugee-related crimes in Brandenburg does not seem to translate to a reduction in general-news events related to right-wing motivated crimes, as the number of such incidents reportedly reached 796 in the first quarter of 2025.
- Despite the decrease in reported refugee-related crimes, the Community policy, employment policy (repeated 21 times), and crime-and-justice landscape in Brandenburg continues to be a matter of concern for policymakers and the public, especially in light of the growing intensity of hatred and persistent incidents of hate and violence against individuals regardless of their origin or skin color.
