Homophobic attacks on the rise in Germany

The number of violent homophobic incidents against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Germany has more than doubled compared to 2013, according to a governmental response to an inquiry by Germany's Left Party on Thursday.

According to the German Interior Ministry, there were 97 violent homophobic acts in 2018, while 58 such incidents were already recorded in the first half of 2019.

The total number of offenses against LGBT people in Germany has increased as well. During the entire year of 2013, there were 240 registered cases compared to 245 in the first half of 2019 alone.

Doris Achelwilm, MP of the German Left Party, said that "the increase in violence is not by chance" and warned that it resulted essentially from an emerging social climate "that puts minorities under pressure and fear."

As possible countermeasures, Achelwilm suggested "strengthening police units against hate crimes" and providing more resources for victim protection, violence prevention and awareness-raising.

According to a spokesperson of the Germany Left Party, the need for action against LGBT violence was bigger than perceived by the public. The spokesperson cited the brutal killing of a homosexual man in 2018 by three right-wing extremists.

Two of the three men were sentenced to 11 years in prison, while the leading figure behind the attack was sentenced to 14 years.