There is no mention of a “death threat” against Markus Lietza, as the AfD parliamentary group wrote in its press release, in the statement by senior public prosecutor Ulf Willuhn. However, when asked by our editorial team, he confirmed that there is an investigation into the accusation of insult. According to Willuhn, the accused is a German man in his early 50s.
“The investigations into this case are still ongoing,” he said. The relevant file has currently been sent to the lawyer of the Hückeswagen AfD parliamentary group leader. Therefore, Willuhn cannot provide valid further information, “particularly on the question of whether there is also a threat involved, due to a lack of knowledge of the files.”
The actions against the AfD parliamentary group leader also brought the citizens’ group “We are more in Bergisch” onto the scene. In a statement, she flatly rejected the events. The citizens’ group wants to give the majority of society a voice that advocates tolerance, acceptance, humanity and respect, writes its member Kerstin Paulussen. “Nonviolence also derives from this, which is understood as both verbal violence and physical violence.”
In recent years, a culture of confrontation and dispute has developed that no longer adopts these principles as its own. “That is or was one of the reasons why ‘We are more in the Bergisches’ was founded. We reject any activities that run counter to these principles. Regardless of which political direction they come from,” emphasizes Kerstin Paulussen. The citizens’ group also does not accept the argument, which is often intended as legitimation, that one must or is allowed to repay like for like, or the statement “Whoever sows hate will reap hate.” The means of debate are objective argumentation, persuasion, education and protest – principles that should apply in every social action, whether voluntary or professional.
“For this reason, we reject cross-border attacks against any political or voluntary group,” the statement said. “Also because they are counterproductive and enable a victim role, especially compared to the ‘right’, which comes very close to a perpetrator-victim reversal.”
