Germany: Racism and fascism (4)
01 January 1991
Germany: Racism and fascism
artdoc April=1995
Courts
The Solingen murder trial and the German secret service
The trial of four Germans accused of the Solingen murders began
in April, one year after the devastating arson attack. Evidence
at the trial so far, has provided a major source of embarrassment
for the German Secret Services. Three of the four defendants
trained in martial arts on Friday night `Germans only' classes
at the `Hak-Pao' martial arts school which was also a venue for
far-Right meetings. During the trial it emerged that the head of
this school, Bernd Schmitt, had been working for the Federal
Secret Service of Northrhine-Westfalie since 1990. Giving
evidence at the trial, Schmitt admitted phoning one of the
defendants the day after the murder to warn him of a house
search; he had also helped the Republikaner, the Deutschen Liga
and the NF in organising protection for its meetings. Herbert
Schnoor (SPD), Home Secretary for Nordrheinwestfallen, admitted
that Schmitt was an agent but stated that he had absolutely
nothing to do with the Solingen murders and was not involved in
right-wing extremism (Taz 14, 21.4, 30.5, 4,6,10.6.94, Tatblatt
22.6.94).
Nazi jailed as Supreme Court decision overturned
Günter Deckert, the leader of the German far-Right National
Democratic Party, has been convicted of incitement to racial
hatred, libel and the disparagement of the dignity of Holocaust
victims. His one-year prison sentence and £4000 fine comes after
the Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that Deckert
had committed a crime by appearing at a rally with, and
translating the works of Fred Leuchter, an American who denies
the Holocaust took place. Günter Deckert is currently suing the
head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany for allegedly
fomenting racial hatred against Germans and `interfering in
German affairs' (Jewish Chronicle 1.7.94).
Supreme Court demands tough action on arson attacks
The Federal Supreme Court of Germany has ordered the retrial of
five youths who set fire to an asylum-seekers' hostel in August
1992. The youths, accused of arson and breach of the peace, had
initially been given sentences ranging from several months on
probation to three years in prison. The Federal Court has
nullified this decision on the grounds that such arson attacks
are equivalent to attempted murder and should be sentenced
accordingly (Tatblatt 22.6.94).
IRR European Race Audit, Bulletin no 10, September 1994. Contact:
Liz Fekete, Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London
WC1X 9HS. Tel: 0171 837 0041