The Central Council of Jews warns against a trivialization of right-wing extremist scene. “As much as we have been concerned about anti-Semitic attacks by Muslims in recent times and have demanded our attention, we must not underestimate dangers of right-wing extremism,” writes central president Josef Schuster in a contribution to Jewish General.

if ( typeof AdController !== ‘undefined’ !window.Zeit.isMobileView()) { if ( !document.getElementById( ‘iqadtile8’ ) ) { var elem = document.createElement( ‘div’ ); elem.id = ‘iqadtile8’; elem.className = “ad ad-desktop ad-desktop–8 ad-desktop–8-on-article”; elem.setAttribute(‘data-banner-type’, ‘desktop’); document.getElementById(‘ad-desktop-8’).parentNode.appendChild(elem); AdController.render(‘iqadtile8’); if ( window.console typeof window.console.info === ‘function’ ) { window.console.info(‘AdController ‘ AdController.VERSION ‘ tile 8 desktop’) } } } if ( typeof AdController !== ‘undefined’ window.Zeit.isMobileView()) { if ( !document.getElementById( ‘iqadtile3’ ) ) { var elem = document.createElement( ‘div’ ); elem.id = ‘iqadtile3’; elem.className = “ad ad-mobile ad-mobile–3 ad-mobile–3-on-article”; elem.setAttribute(‘data-banner-type’, ‘mobile’); document.getElementById(‘ad-mobile-3’).parentNode.appendChild(elem); AdController.render(‘iqadtile3’); if ( window.console typeof window.console.info === ‘function’ ) { window.console.info(‘AdController ‘ AdController.VERSION ‘ tile 3 mobile’) } } }

The extreme right-wing scene and its readiness for violence have been growing for years, writes Schuster. The NPD apparently struggles for its existence, but new groups have long since established itself. “They propagate a ‘ purebred ‘ Germany – without foreigners, without Muslims and without Jews.”

In politics, this “worrying social development” does not receive too much attention, Schuster said. “Therefore, we must be thankful for civil-society commitment against right-wing extremists.” It is important to mobilize against right-wing extremism. “It’s about our democracy. It was painstakingly achieved after 1945 in Germany. We must not put your stock at risk. “

On Monday, Central Council of Jews signed Protestant pastor Wilfried Manneke with Paul Spiegel Prize for civil courage. Manneke has been fighting neo-Nazis for many years in sourn Lower Saxony.