Göttingen/Kassel, January 26, 2024
Following a serious racist attack by three perpetrators on two residents of the Werra-Meißner district who were victims of anti-Black racism, the trial began on January 24, 2024, at the Eschwege District Court (Case No.: 72 Ls 49823 Js 49823/22 (2/23)). The defendants, now 21 and 24 years old, are accused of having, on August 14, 2022, near the Open Flair Festival, together with an as-yet-unknown third party, first racially insulted a man, now 55 years old, from Eschwege, and a man, now 65 years old, from Witzenhausen, and then repeatedly punched and kicked both of them while they were on the ground, causing serious injuries. Immediately before the attack, the victims were told to "piss off back to their country."
The two defendants, who were also attendees of the Open Flair festival, could only be identified because one of the victims, despite his injuries, tracked two of the fleeing perpetrators to the Open Flair festival campsite, remaining in constant telephone contact with the police, and informed the festival security. The two defendants were then detained there until the police arrived.
The first witnesses heard before the district court have now heavily implicated the two defendants. While they largely deny the crimes, the victims recognized them as the perpetrators of the assaults. The acts were described independently of each other and subsequently corroborated by an uninvolved eyewitness during the proceedings. This witness displayed civic courage and came to the aid of the injured.
“This attack occurred on a busy street, with many people out and about. It is a bitter realization for the two victims that only two people intervened and helped them. This fact is particularly difficult to bear, as a witness described the attack as ‘very brutal.’ Right-wing, racist, and antisemitic violence must be met with civic courage and concrete solidarity with the victims – if this is lacking, it is devastating for the victims’ sense of security and belonging,” said the counselor from the support center response – Counseling for Victims of Right-Wing, Racist, and Antisemitic Violence.
“My client is a qualified agricultural engineer and has lived in Germany for several decades. He was attacked and seriously injured solely because of his skin color. There is no doubt about the racist motive,” states attorney Sven Adam, who represents one of the victims as a co-plaintiff. “The attack continues to have significant consequences for my client. He suffered various abrasions and contusions to his face and upper body, lost a tooth, and required treatment for several others. He still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder requiring treatment,” Adam continued, addressing the consequences of the racist attack.
Particularly in connection with anti-Black racism, the consultant from response: “Those affected have experienced a massive act of violence, which is a severe psychological burden. Furthermore, victims of anti-Black racism constantly face exclusion and discrimination. The perpetrators explicitly denied the victims their belonging before attacking them. One of these perpetrators has not even been identified or found. This, too, is an enormous burden for the victims. While they still have to deal with the consequences of the attack a year and a half later – regarding their medical care, their mental state, their desire for legal clarification and justice – this person can continue their life undisturbed. This option is not available to the victims.”
The next day of the trial, with extensive further taking of evidence, has been scheduled for February 26, 2024 at 9 a.m. in courtroom 2 of the Eschwege District Court.
For further questions, please contact attorney Sven Adam using the contact details provided and Sarah Teufel from response using the following contact details:
Email: presse.response@frankfurt-evangelisch.de
Mobile: 01523 7610896
