Right-wing extremism at record levels: anti-fascist fighters in custody!

Right-wing extremism at record levels: anti-fascist fighters in custody!

The crisis in the political landscape in Germany is becoming increasingly clear. According to a recent report by the taz Right-wing extremist crimes are reaching a record high. This goes hand in hand with a radicalization of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), while the number of young anti-fascists imprisoned for violent clashes with right-wing extremists is also increasing. Particularly noteworthy is the case of Maja T. from Hungary, who has been in prison for over a year and is facing a sentence of 24 years. Lina E. from Leipzig is also currently serving a five-year prison sentence, while other anti-fascists are facing trials in Dresden and Düsseldorf.

These developments raise questions and call for discussion about the right approaches to anti-fascism. An event on this topic will take place on Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 5 p.m. at the UT Connewitz in Leipzig. Admission is free, but a reservation is required. The program will include assistance with questions about taz subscriptions and digital reading at 5 p.m., followed by a panel discussion at 7 p.m.

Panel discussion with prominent participants

The panel discussion will be enriched by several well-known personalities, including Wolfram Jarosch, biology and chemistry teacher and father of Maja T. Other participants include Juliane Nagel from Die LINKE in the Saxon state parliament, Anne Fromm, head of the reportage and research department at taz, and Konrad Litschko, taz editor in the reportage and research department.

A look at the numbers shows the alarming development: In 2024, 37,835 right-wing extremist crimes were registered, which corresponds to an increase of 47.4% compared to the previous year. In particular, the number of right-wing extremist violent acts rose by 11.6% to 1,281. This is a worrying trend that is reinforced by increased numbers of violent right-wing extremists. The Federal Government estimates the potential number of people in these groups to be around 15,300, which represents an increase compared to previous years.

The motives and content of right-wing movements are complex. They often use social issues, such as the Middle East conflict, to propagate anti-migrant and anti-Semitic positions. In 2024, 360 right-wing extremist demonstrations took place, focusing on issues such as asylum and migration as well as anti-queer sentiment. At the same time, there was a decline in the number of right-wing extremist music events, although there was still a significant average number of visitors.

In view of these developments, the upcoming exchange at UT Connewitz is of great importance. The taz will also publish the last printed edition on October 17, 2025 and will then only be available as an ePaper. However, the Wochentaz remains available in printed form and as an ePaper.

These critical topics and the planned event offer space for dialogue and reflection on how to deal with right-wing extremism and anti-fascism in Germany.