Crime - SPD parliamentary group leader: Origin does not explain the crime in Oeynhausen
After the fatal attack on a young man in Bad Oeynhausen, SPD-Landtagsfraktion leader Jochen Ott warned against explaining the assault only by the suspected perpetrator's origin or migration. "The perpetrator alone bears the responsibility – and he will and must be punished: by a court in a rule-of-law procedure," Ott stated in a Landtag session.
Origin, religion, and migration mean nothing. "This is proven by the millions of people with a migration background in North Rhine-Westphalia," Ott added. These people also demanded that everyone adhered to the rules and laws in Germany. At the same time, Ott emphasized: "Whoever is our guest and doesn't comply, whoever commits a crime, or threatens our security, must leave."
The suspect in the crime is an 18-year-old Syrian. He is accused of attacking the 20-year-old in the night of June 23, for reasons yet unknown, and striking and trampling on his head. The man died a few days later in the hospital. The suspect reportedly came to Germany in 2016 as part of a family reunification with parents and siblings. The assault fueled the debate on immigration and deportation in Germany further.
Do not misuse the crime for stirring up emotions
Landtag President André Kuper also warned against politically exploiting the crime. The heinous act and the grief over the loss of a young man are in no way suitable "for populist provocations and for stirring up emotions in an already heated atmosphere," Kuper said. "Out of respect for the bereaved, who are mourning their lost child, brother, and friend." The mayor of Bad Oeynhausen, Lars Bökenkroger (CDU), and the district administrator of Minden-Lübbecke, Ali Dogan (SPD), followed the debate from the podium.
- The debate on immigration and deportation in Germany was further fueled by the crimes committed by an 18-year-old Syrian suspect, leading some to question migration policies in Parliament.
- In Düsseldorf, the Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, SPD leader Jochen Ott urged against blaming migration for the crime, emphasizing that the perpetrator alone is responsible.
- Religion and origin do not play a role in assigning responsibility for the crime, as Ott pointed out, citing the millions of peaceful migrants living in North Rhine-Westphalia who respect German laws.
- Despite the call for understanding and adherence to laws, the incident in Bad Oeynhausen remains a concern for law enforcement, highlighting the need for careful handling of immigration and integration policies in Germany.
- Jochen Ott, a prominent SPD member in North Rhine-Westphalia, reiterated that those who do not comply with the rules or threaten security in Germany must face consequences, regardless of their migration background.
