exclusive
President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution Haldenwang calls Contrasts-Interview calls on the “silent majority” of society to stand up for democracy. The dangers posed by right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism have not yet been sufficiently recognized.
The President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Thomas Haldenwang, sees democracy in Germany as more threatened than is perceived by the middle of society. This is shown by an indifference “towards the strengthening of certain parties”. But it can also be seen in the way anti-Semitism is dealt with, said Haldenwang in an interview with ARD-Politics magazine Contrasts.
The middle of society in Germany seems to have become very comfortable for him, explained Haldenwang. “People have become very comfortable in their private lives and are not sufficiently aware of how serious the threats to our democracy have become.”
Security authorities could only take limited action against the threats to democracy. He therefore wishes “that the middle of society, the silent majority in this country, will wake up and finally take a clear position against extremism in Germany.”
“Shame for Germany”
According to the BfV President, anti-Semitism has reached a new dimension in both quantity and quality. “It is a disgrace, it is shameful how openly anti-Semitism is now shown in the country from which the Holocaust began,” said Haldenwang Contrasts.
In the entire year of 2022, 2,600 anti-Semitic crimes were registered in Germany, 82 percent of which were committed by right-wing extremists. In the past three months, since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, significantly more than 1,200 anti-Semitic crimes have been recorded in Germany.
October 7th was also a turning point for Germany, said Haldenwang. “The fact that Stars of David are being painted on houses again on Germany’s streets and that synagogues are being attacked with incendiary devices is a completely new quality that we have not noticed in the past.”
The greatest danger comes from right-wing extremists
According to the BfV President, the greatest danger to Jews in Germany in the past clearly came from right-wing extremists. However, the attacks on October 7th also made the anti-Semitism of left-wing extremist groups, to which the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has regularly drawn attention, as well as the anti-Semitism of Islamist groups much more visible.
But anti-Semitism is also propagated in Germany by Turkish extremist groups in Germany, both from the left-wing and right-wing extremist spectrum, says Haldenwang.
Danger for Jews also comes from abroad
Haldenwang also sees a threat to Jews in Germany from abroad. In this context, he referred to the attacks on Jewish institutions in the Ruhr area in November 2022. It has now been clearly proven that the Iranian state is behind the actions. Iran also currently has an interest in arousing emotions in Germany and supporting anti-Semitic attitudes.
“But there are corresponding statements, also from Turkey. And given the fact that we of course have a very large Turkish diaspora here in Germany and that parts of this diaspora may be receptive to such calls from outside, we have to worry about that too “, says Haldenwang.
The interview with BfV President Thomas Haldenwang was conducted on the occasion of the Contrasts documentary “Jewish hatred – our life after October 7th”. The documentary can now be seen in the ARD media library and will be broadcast on January 11th at 9:45 p.m. on Erste.