Germany’s Jewish community has reacted sharply to a new wave of neo-Nazi violence against foreigners, strongly condemning an arson attack this past weekend that claimed the lives of five people of Turkish origin in the Western German town of Solingen.
The tragic attack only proved that recent German legislation making it more difficult for political refugees to enter the country has not helped to curb hatred against foreigners living here, according to Ignatz Bubis, chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.
“In a tragic way,” Bubis said in a statement, “the thesis has been confirmed that the constitutional changes to limit the right of asylum have done nothing” to stop the neo-Nazi violence.
The German parliament adopted the changes last week after a lengthy, emotional debate.
Arson attacks against foreigners in other cities, such as Munich, have also been reported in the last week.
In Solingen, meanwhile, thousands of Turks continued Tuesday to protest against the lack of protection for members of their community.
For the past three nights, Turks and leftwing Germans have rampaged through the small German town, many of them demolishing shops and cars and causing heavy damage.
German Jewish author Ralph Giordano, who lives in Cologne, called on the foreigners in Germany to arm themselves in response to the Solingen arson.
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