Refugees scapegoated after wave of attacks in Germany

Since the influx of refugees in Germany, the country's atmosphere has been tense. The call by Chancellor Angela Merkel of "We can do this!" raised a bit of hope, but didn't quite stop the rise of extreme right wing parties, such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The recent four attacks in Germany have risen the fear, and sadly so, the hate within the people, including politicians, who are seemingly helpless against such situations. Before the attacks, there was already a growing anti-migrant sentiment across the country and Merkel's refugee policy has long been under fire. The first attack was the one in Würzburg on a train, where five people were seriously injured by a 17 year-old Afghan boy. Shortly after, the attack on a shopping mall and fast-food restaurant in Munich cost nine people's lives and the attacker shot himself in the end. Another attack was carried out by a man, who killed a female friend and wounded five others on an open street. In another attack, a failed Syrian asylum seeker blew himself up in Ansbach, wounding 15 people. It has been reported that he had suicidal tendencies and had received psychiatric treatment.

Labeling all these as terror attacks would be wrong, as similar things happened just a few years earlier in Winnenden and Erfurt, where young people shot at their peers and teachers. These attacks were before the refugee crisis shook Europe.

Yet politicians seem to be scapegoating, instead of looking at their own mistakes. The reactions towards Turkey have grown more hostile at a time when Turkey had just overcome a serious and deadly coup-attempt.

Many Turks in Germany still feel close to their homeland and naturally want to show their support for the country, something that has disturbed the political arena. One example of this is the planned demonstration in Cologne on Sunday. The Christian Social Union (CSU) and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are strongly against this demonstration, labeling it a "Pro-Erdoğan-Demonstration," however the demonstration has been organized to show support for Turkish democracy. District Chairman of CSU Lower Bavaria Andreas Scheuer said that Turkish domestic politics had no place on German soil. Even the Social Democrats (SPD) showed concern and many youth organizations have called for counter demonstrations.

Considering themselves the protectors of free speech and democracy, why has the reaction toward Turkey grown so harsh? The support for the Gülenist Terror Organization (FETÖ) has grown in the country, as well. However, that should not be surprising, considering that the PKK and its other groups can have offices in Berlin and other European cities. Blaming terror for these attacks or naming Muslims as the perpetrators is not a solution, yet the leading politician of the AfD said that asylum for all Muslim refugees should be revised and controlled, before any more are taken into the country.

Even though it is evident that the nature of the recent attacks are quite different, Deputy Chairman of the Left Party Sahra Wagenknecht criticized the refugee-policy, saying that taking in so many people was bound to bring problems. Of course, the German politicians were not silent about this and criticized her and other comments like this. Still, it is noticeable that the rhetoric in Germany has become harsher and anti-migrant and anti-Muslim sentiment increase with every attack that happens in the country.