Germany’s first African-born MP to stand down after racist abuse
Germany’s first African-born MP to stand down after racist abuse
Karamba Diaby’s announcement he wants to spend time with family comes after bullet and arson attacks on his office
Diaby, of the Social Democrats (SPD), entered parliament alongside Charles M Huber, who sat for the Christian Democrats for just one parliamentary term. They were the first black members of the Bundestag and their entry was hailed as groundbreaking and historic by equal rights campaigners.
Diaby, who has a PhD in chemistry, was born in Senegal and moved to the then East Germany in 1985.
He has increasingly faced racist abuse in recent years. His constituency office in Halle, Saxony Anhalt, has been an arson target, and has had bullets fired through the window. Some staff have faced blackmail attempts to stop them working for him and have been subjected to and threats, Diaby said.
“In the last few years I’ve faced several murder threats. This has now overstepped the mark,” he said. “The hatred that the AfD sows every day with its misanthropic narratives is reflected in concrete psychological and physical violence. This endangers the cohesion of our society. We cannot simply accept this.”
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Idk why people are acting like he’s insufficiently German, he’s lived in Germany longer than the modern country has existed
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We cannot simply accept this.
unfortunately by deciding "to spend more time with his family" he is doing exactly that. i understand it is not easy situation for him, but the rhetoric does not make sense.
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The poster left out an important part of the article
Diaby said the racist slurs and death threats were “not the main reasons” for his decision, having frequently emphasised he would not be cowed by threats. But they are widely believed they have played a part.
Diaby proved over the last 11 years that he will not be silenced by hatred and violence. Lesser people would have given up a long time ago. Maybe 2020 when someone shoot up his offices or when they put it on fire... Dealing with this kind of hate and threat on a daily base must be so draining and exhausting. He is 62 now and his wish to spend more time as a private person with the people important to him is a valid one.
Nevertheless is this a loss for Germany and our democracy and unfortunately a win for the fascists of the AfD.
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