Department of Legal Affairs - Hate crimes unlikely to receive prioritized prosecution.
In the near future, there won't be a state office dedicated to prosecuting hate crimes in Thuringia. The existing framework for handling these cases remains the same, as stated by a spokesperson from the Justice Ministry. The current setup will be evaluated to see if more specialized prosecution structures could improve the way these cases are managed, but there's no definite plan to create a specific prosecutor's office for this purpose.
Activists demand action
Various organizations and institutions that deal with hate crimes are no longer satisfied with the current framework. They believe these structures are inadequate for effectively prosecuting online hate speech and right-wing assaults. Victim advisers from ezra have been advocating for a special prosecutor's office to handle hate crimes for years.
ezra is a victim counseling organization that helps people who've been attacked due to right-wing motives. Funded by the Evangelical Church in Central Germany, their counselors often voice concerns about the Thuringia justice system in court proceedings, arguing it doesn't take right-wing motives seriously enough. A special prosecutor's office for these crimes could change that, according to ezra. The Thuringia Refugee Council also supports this demand.
Justice Minister Doreen Denstaedt (Greens) previously expressed her support for creating such an office shortly after taking office in February 2023. She emphasized her desire to create this office, especially when dealing with crimes motivated by right-wing ideology. However, she also acknowledged her uncertainty if there would be enough time left before the end of the current legislative period to implement this.
Special prosecutors and a central office
The spokesperson for the Justice Ministry confirmed that each of the four Thuringian prosecutor's offices has special prosecutors in the political proceedings and state protection offense departments. Additionally, a "Coordination Office for Hate Crimes on the Internet" commenced operations at the Thuringian General Prosecutor's Office on January 1, 2020. This office serves as a central point of contact between other authorities, including the State Media Authority, and media companies. Its responsibility includes ensuring a uniform approach to the prosecution of these crimes through cooperation among the prosecutor's offices.
Across Germany, other federal states have already implemented special prosecutor's offices to combat hate crimes. For example, the Niedersachsen Central Office for Combating Hate Crimes on the Internet operates within the prosecutor's office in Gottingen. There, complaints about hate speech online are regularly processed.
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The public prosecutor's office in Erfurt, like those in the other Thuringian districts, currently has special prosecutors for political proceedings and state protection offenses. However, activists, including victim advisers from ezra and the Thuringia Refugee Council, argue that a dedicated hate crime prosecutor's office is needed to tackle the issue more effectively. Despite Justice Minister Doreen Denstaedt's support for such an office, there's uncertainty if it can be established before the end of the current legislative period.
Currently, in cases of hate crimes, the pursuit of justice relies on the existing framework, which some believe is inadequate, particularly for prosecuting online hate speech and right-wing assaults. The current setup includes a "Coordination Office for Hate Crimes on the Internet" at the Thuringian General Prosecutor's Office, which serves as a central point of contact for other authorities, but activists argue for more.
In other parts of Germany, special prosecutor's offices have been successfully implemented to combat hate crimes. For instance, the Niedersachsen Central Office for Combating Hate Crimes on the Internet operates within the prosecutor's office in Gottingen, processing complaints about hate speech online. These examples highlight the potential for improved handling of hate crimes if such dedicated offices were established in every federal state.
While Thuringia's Justice Ministry continues to evaluate the existing framework, the pursuit of justice for hate crimes remains a matter of concern and discussion, with many advocating for specialized prosecution structures.
Source: www.stern.de
