- 400 cases of extreme right-wing crime in the first quarter
Investigations into right-wing extremist crimes do not always end in convictions, just like in other areas of crime. In the first quarter of 2024, for instance, almost 400 such cases were closed by courts or public prosecutors in Thuringia. However, only in 20 cases were the suspected perpetrators convicted, as stated in the ministry's response to a minor interpellation by Left party MP Katharina König-Preuss.
All convicted received fines, with no youth or imprisonment sentences imposed. In nearly 200 cases, the proceedings were closed because no suspect could be identified, the ministry added.
Proceedings discontinued also due to triviality
In about 110 of these nearly 400 cases with a right-wing extremist motive, a suspect was identified, but the proceedings were eventually discontinued because the charge could not be proven in court. In nearly 80 cases, the proceedings were discontinued due to triviality or after conditions were met, according to the ministry's response.
No convictions not uncommon
Meanwhile, proceedings ending without a conviction are not unusual. For comparison: in 2022, out of a total of 16,300 cases at Thuringia's local courts, around 5,000 resulted in a conviction.
However, there is often criticism that courts are too lenient with right-wing extremist offenders. This was recently raised against the Higher Regional Court of Jena, which sentenced some of the alleged leaders of the right-wing extremist combat sports group "Knockout 51" to significantly lower sentences than the Federal Prosecutor General had demanded. The verdict is not yet final.
Following the verdict, Green party politician Madeleine Henfling, for instance, stated that this decision once again downplayed the danger posed by right-wing extremists.
Despite the high number of closed cases, only a small percentage resulted in convictions for right-wing extremist crimes, highlighting the challenge of securing justice in such instances. The leniency shown towards right-wing extremist offenders in some court rulings has also been a subject of criticism, raising concerns about the effectiveness of justice in addressing these crimes.
