News

Important recommendations not yet implemented

From the IDZ Jena press release:

Publication of the study “Interim assessment of the implementation of the recommendations of the federal and state committees of inquiry into the NSU complex”

Enver Şimşek died 25 years ago today. He was murdered in Nuremberg by the right-wing terrorist “National Socialist Underground” (NSU). Between 2000 and 2007, the NSU carried out ten murders, several bomb attacks and bank robberies. In addition to the legal investigation, a total of 15 parliamentary committees of inquiry (PUA) have dealt with the NSU complex in the
Bundestag and in almost all affected federal states since 2013.

Janina Wollmann, co-author of the study, summarizes the key findings:

“Important innovations have been achieved in recent years – for example in the exchange of information between authorities or in the prosecution of right-wing extremist acts. However, there are still considerable deficits, particularly in dealing with victims of racist violence and in the training and further education of authorities on right-wing extremism and racism. It is crucial that democracy work and education programs are permanently strengthened and secured, as they are indispensable for the prevention of right-wing extremism, racism and violence.”

Dr. Axel Salheiser, Scientific Director of the IDZ Jena, explains:

“With our study, we want to advance the political and social reappraisal of the NSU complex. We contribute the results to the public and academic debate and at the same time show decision-makers at all levels where there is still a concrete need for action.”

Timo Reinfrank, Chairman of the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, adds:

“We want to provide an impetus so that the urgently needed institutional and structural changes are finally brought forward – for effective prevention of right-wing terrorism and a strong democracy. There is only a short time left until the 15th anniversary of the NSU’s self-disclosure on November 4, 2026. This time until the anniversary must be used to finally implement key recommendations consistently.”

In particular, the study documents the implementation status in the federal states of Saxony, Thuringia and Hesse. The focus is on the areas of justice and police as well as the promotion of democracy. On the basis of the identified implementation status, options for action are derived and presented for the Saxon State Ministry of Justice and for Democracy, Europe and Equality (SMJusDEG), which commissioned the 2023 study.

These options include, among others:

• the introduction of progress statistics to supplement police crime statistics
• the publication of guidelines for recognizing anti-Semitic and racist crimes
• Raising awareness among judges and public prosecutors for dealing with victims of right-wing and racist violence, regular and well-advertised training courses
  
• examining the establishment of a relief fund for victims of right-wing and racist violence in Saxony
• the long-term financing and safeguarding of democracy promotion projects against challenges arising from the change in political culture

The study was already completed in November 2024 and handed over to the then SMJusDEG.
It is now being made available to the public for the first time.

The study is now available as a PDF document.

A limited number of printed copies can be requested from the IDZ.