One in every 4 people in Germany is an immigrant

German Chancellor Scholz and the German government's Commissioner for Integration Reem Alabali-Radovan met with representatives of immigrant organizations at the Chancellery.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Radovan after the meeting, Scholz said, "Almost one in every four people in Germany has an immigrant background. 20 million women and men, colleagues at work and school, neighbors, friends from sports clubs, citizens who contribute here and move our country forward. Germany is our common home."

Pointing out that many immigrants in Germany are worried and questioning whether they still have a future in the country, Scholz said, "Because they feel targeted when right-wing extremists spread rumors that they want to arrest people and then forcibly deport them."

"WE WILL NOT ALLOW EXTREMISM TO DIVIDE OUR SOCIETY"

Emphasizing that they stand with those of immigrant origin, Scholz stated, "We will not allow extremism and intolerance to divide our society. All 84 million citizens in our country have the same rights. Everyone deserves respect."

Underlining that "racist ideology" is something that should never return to Germany, Chancellor Scholz emphasized that right-wing extremism is a major threat to the country's democracy and social peace.

"They want to divide us, to turn us against each other, and we will not allow that," said Scholz, adding that he had clearly expressed this in his meetings with victims of antisemitism and antiziganism, as well as with immigrant organizations.

"I EXPECT THE BILL TO BE PASSED QUICKLY"

Commissioner for Integration Reem Alabali-Radovan also said that people with an immigrant background, in particular, are aware that German democracy is under threat from the far-right.

Pointing out that these people are directly affected by far-right and racist plans, Radovan stated that the government has placed the fight against right-wing extremism at the top of its agenda.

Recalling the racist massacres in Mölln, Solingen, the NSU, Halle, and Hanau, and emphasizing that a far-right attack occurs in Germany every 23 minutes, Radovan said, "There is no right-wing extremism without racism, but racism also exists without right-wing extremism."

Noting that she expects the "Democracy Promotion Act" to be passed quickly in parliament, Radovan said, "This will also send a strong signal to the thousands of people who have been taking to the streets for weeks to defend our democracy. Many of us with an immigrant background were not surprised by the recent revelations regarding racist deportation fantasies."

Stating that based on her impression from today's meeting, some immigrants in the country are afraid, while others are simply exhausted, Radovan noted the following:

"However, many are also angry and determined because racism, antisemitism, and antiziganism were hidden or ignored for a long time, and those affected were not taken seriously. But now they are determined, because many people are finally realizing this, standing up, raising their voices, and taking to the streets. This gives them courage, and they want to be at the forefront of defending our democracy. This provides courage and confidence for our democracy and our diversity. We must take advantage of this momentum."