“Dangers to our society and our democracy now come from all directions: from within and without. They lurk on the streets, in cyberspace, reach us digitally via social media, are politically or religiously motivated, or come from abroad as disinformation and destabilization campaigns. These threats have made themselves at home on our liberal democratic soil – too at home.”
Minister Herbert Reul
According to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, dangers from outside increased with the start of the war in Ukraine.
Minister Reul continued:
“Espionage, cyber attacks as well as disinformation and destabilization campaigns from abroad are the major challenges for our democracy. Even if boundaries between areas of extremism are becoming less clear, threats are not limitless and we are not helpless. Whether left, right or from outside – the Office for the Protection of the Constitution discovers every democratic foul play. Because we are defensive.”
The current report for the protection of the constitution summarizes right-wing and left-wing extremism as well as Islamism and anti-Semitism as ongoing threats to society. In the same way, enemies of democracy threaten the free democratic basic order.
The crises of the past few years have put society to the test. This has also made our basic democratic order more vulnerable. In these turbulent times, extremists find it easier to reach people and win them over to their own cause.
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is observing an increasing blurring of boundaries between the various areas of extremism
Minister Herbert Reul:
“It is no longer possible to clearly separate what the different enemies of democracy stand for today. Usually there are only nuances between them. Are people just protesting for the climate or are there also left-wing extremists who are questioning the state? Anyone who is still radical today may be allied with extremists tomorrow and planning a violent overthrow. This creates new challenges for our constitutional protection officers. It is important to take a closer look: who is running onto the field with whom? And who only wears the Democratic jersey as a camouflage and actually plays on another team?”
The Minister of the Interior also advocates that the security authorities - including the North Rhine-Westphalian Office for the Protection of the Constitution - be given more powers. They must be able to keep up with international partners and remain able to act even in the face of increased challenges. The reporting obligations of the Network Enforcement Act or the data retention regulations also require legal revision.
“We need more options and powers on the internet to put an end to extremists even sooner,” said the minister.
Phenomenon areas at a glance:
In 2022, there were a total of 8,948 politically motivated crimes in North Rhine-Westphalia. This is an increase of 39.8 percent compared to the previous year (2021: 6,399.) The main reasons for the increase lie in the area of the PMK foreign ideology with a large number of mutual crimes by Russian and Ukrainian supporters as well as in the area of the “PMK - not to be assigned” with a large number of violations of the assembly law. A total of 396 violent crimes with political motivation were registered in North Rhine-Westphalia. Compared to the previous year, this is an increase of 9.1 percent (2021: 363). 260 violent crimes were solved by the police, making the clearance rate of 65.7 percent higher than in the same period last year (2021: 58.4 percent).
Right-wing extremism
In 2022, the North Rhine-Westphalian Office for the Protection of the Constitution is keeping an eye on 3,545 right-wing extremists (2021: 3,875), a decrease of almost nine percent. The number of violence-oriented right-wing extremists is 1,900 people (2021: 2,000). Politically motivated crime on the right increased from 3,135 crimes in 2021 to 3,453 crimes in 2022. An increase of around ten percent. Violent crimes committed fell slightly from 121 crimes in 2021 to 117 crimes in 2022.
“The decline in numbers in the area of right-wing extremism is no reason to give the all-clear. Because right-wing extremism, with its inhumane ideology, is the greatest extremist threat to our democracy,” emphasizes Minister Reul.
The Reichsbürger scene is particularly in the focus of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. And not just since the planned violent overthrow of the state by the suspected terrorist organization around the so-called “Prince Reuss” in December last year. Reich citizens were mentioned for the first time in the state's constitutional protection report in 2016. In total, there are currently around 3,400 Reich citizens in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Left-wing extremism
In 2022, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution counted 2,810 left-wing extremists in North Rhine-Westphalia. This is an increase of 5.2 percent compared to the previous year (2021: 2,670). The number of violent left-wing extremists in North Rhine-Westphalia has remained unchanged for several years at around 1,000 people. Politically motivated crime in the left-wing area has fallen by 31.7 percent: from 1,207 crimes in 2021 to 824 crimes in 2022. The violent crimes committed fell from 141 crimes in the previous year to 71.
“Left-wing extremism also plays the game of flexible borders. Citizens who have a legitimate concern such as climate protection are being exploited by left-wing extremist criminals. We all still have the pictures from Lützerath in our minds. The climate protection movement must finally differentiate itself loudly and clearly from left-wing extremists!” appeals Minister Reul.
Islamism
Last year, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution counted 4,070 Islamists in North Rhine-Westphalia. This is a decrease of 11.7 percent compared to the previous year (2021: 4,610). The number of violent Islamists fell from 780 to 600 people. Politically motivated crimes in the area of religious ideology rose slightly from 59 to 60 crimes.
Interior Minister Reul continues to warn:
“The decline in the number of Islamists in North Rhine-Westphalia does not give any reason to give the all-clear. We saw how hidden and therefore even more dangerous Islamists are in our ranks during the arrests in Castrop-Rauxel at the beginning of this year.”
anti-Semitism
In the area of anti-Semitism, the security authorities registered 331 anti-Semitic crimes last year. That was 106 fewer crimes than in 2021. Most of the cases involved incitement to hatred, propaganda offenses and damage to property.
Interior Minister Reul warns:
“There is no question that anti-Semitism in all forms must be condemned in the strongest possible terms and must never again have a place in Germany. Although there was an overall decline, the quality of crimes against our Jewish fellow citizens is appalling - just think of the shooting at the synagogue in Essen at the end of last year. And that’s why we’re not letting up on protecting Jews as best we can.”
With this report for the protection of the constitution there is once again a separate chapter on the subject of anti-Semitism, which will be an integral part in the future.
Espionage and cyber defense
In addition to right-wing extremism, espionage and cyberattacks represent another major threat to our democracy. The threats reach North Rhine-Westphalia in hybrid form as disinformation and propaganda, in the form of espionage, through cyberattacks on our critical infrastructure, through state terrorism and through illegal technology procurement. The intelligence services from Russia, China, Iran and Turkey are the main players.
“Because the threats that reach us are more diverse, they are even more dangerous when combined. “But that also means: If the threat from outside becomes greater and greater, we have to move closer together inside,” warns Minister Reul.
The NRW Office for the Protection of the Constitution will continue to closely monitor developments in all areas of extremism and inform the public about them.
Sources:
In keeping with the topic, our article > Extremism and Digital Media: Digital media are ideal propaganda tools for extremist groups. In an everyday context, they can use this to convey their messages to teenagers and young adults with a wide reach.
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )