Racism in Dachau: Panel discussion highlights explosive topics

Racism in Dachau: Panel discussion highlights explosive topics

In Dachau, the discussion about racism and discrimination is in full swing. Stephan Dünnwald, who works at the Bavarian Refugee Council and advocates for the rights of refugees, is concerned about the increasing spread of right-wing extremist and racist positions. In the context of the federal election campaign, it is clear that employers are increasingly less willing to employ refugees, while at the same time public criticism of deportations is decreasing. “There are louder calls for fewer refugees to come into the country,” says Dünnwald. Hamado Dipama, an anti-racism and anti-discrimination consultant at Agaby, says that the social gap is widening further and the debate is overheated, making access to fair protection for migrants more difficult.

On June 28th, the Dachau Round Table Against Racism celebrates its tenth anniversary - a good opportunity to reflect on how far society has actually come. This table was founded to defend ourselves against right-wing extremist attacks. At a panel discussion in the Ludwig Thoma House, Dünnwald and Dipama will discuss current anti-racist politics and the challenges they bring with them. It also becomes clear that the election campaign was conducted on the backs of refugees and migrants. “We have to do more to oppose racism in everyday life,” demands Dünnwald.

The facts

The current situation is alarming. According to a report by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, over 20,600 cases of discrimination were reported between 2021 and 2023, with racist and anti-Semitic discrimination being particularly common. Ferda Ataman, one of the commissioners, speaks of a discrimination crisis in Germany and urgently calls for effective protective measures. “We have an incalculable number of people in Germany who are affected by discrimination,” says Ataman.

The number of unreported cases is likely to be even higher, as 16 to 30% of the population say they have experienced discrimination. Last year, 11,400 people contacted the Federal Discrimination Agency about discrimination. “According to many experts, there is a need for a reform of the General Equal Treatment Act,” says Reem Alabali-Radovan, who points out that protection against discrimination by state authorities in particular needs to be improved.

The demands

A central concern in the debate is closing gaps in protection against racism and anti-Semitism. Political representatives and anti-discrimination activists such as Dr. Mehmet Daimagüler emphasize that discrimination is also widespread in state institutions, especially against Sinti and Roma. “We must work together to ensure that every person, regardless of origin or identity, is respected,” he demands. The security situation remains particularly worrying for Jehovah's Witnesses and the LGBTIQ* community, who, according to Sven Lehmann, continue to face high risks of discrimination and violence.

The Dachau concentration camp memorial is also facing allegations from the Russian side that ribbons in national colors were removed there. This creates additional tensions that further raises awareness of racism in the region.

Overall, it is clear that the social confrontation with racism and discrimination in Bavaria is needed more than ever. The repeated calls to set up an anti-discrimination office in every city underline the urgency of the issue. There are currently only six such positions in Bavaria, a situation that many find inadequate.

It remains to be hoped that the upcoming discussions in the Ludwig Thoma House and the celebrations for the anniversary of the Round Table against Racism will provide new impetus for dealing with racism and discrimination. The fight against discrimination must remain a constant and serious effort in Bavaria and beyond.