English Information

Appeal for Donations: Victims of Racist Arson Attacks Need Your Help!

It usually begins with insults and swastikas smeared onto walls. And it usually ends with fire. Arson attacks on snack bars run by people of Turkish or Asian extraction have become increasingly frequent, attacks that threaten their financial existence and even their lives. The attackers, in the cases when they are identified, are Neo-Nazi youngsters and young adults who can’t pay for the damage they cause.

• What we do
• Make a donation
• Help for the victims
• Support offered by the Fund

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“Supporting the victims is an act of humanity and solidarity!”

Wolfgang Thierse

Anyone can be the victim of right-wing violence

Extreme right-wing violence is unfortunately a fact of everyday life in Germany. Immigrants, the homeless, young people who look different, and the disabled are among the random targets of the hatred and violence of far right. They are verbally abused, chased, punched, kicked, sexually harassed, and subjected to violence on a daily basis.

 

Taking a stand against right-wing violence

The victim of extreme right-wing violence is often left on his or her own to deal with the consequences of the attack he or she has suffered. The victim suffers both the physical injuries and psychological trauma that arise from the assault and lives in the knowledge that such an assault could happen again at any time. In many cases, the victim does not have the money to pay for medical treatment or for the costs of hiring a lawyer to take legal action. These people need help including medical and psychological care and most certainly financial support.

“The CURA Victims' Support Fund (Opferfonds CURA) provides instant assistance to the victims of extreme right-wing violence and their families”, says Ursula Kinkel, founder of CURA.

The Fund offers support to all victims of extremist, racist, or anti-Semitic violence, whether those victims are migrants or from migrant families, homeless, disabled, young people, or others. The sort of assistance provided includes:

• Medical treatment that is not covered by health insurance (particularly for refugees),
• Rehabilitation following an assault (i.e. psychological counseling),
• Payment of legal costs and other costs which may arise following an assault,
• Financial emergencies,
• Repairing property damaged by physical attacks.

Written applications are continuously evaluated and decided.

 

Don’t ignore the victims of right-wing violence

Supporting the victims of right-wing violence is a practical way of speaking out against violence and in favor of a democratic society. Give direct support to the victims of right-wing violence by making a donation! The Fund relies on donations from committed people. Donations go straight to the victims, showing them that they are not alone. A donation of any amount helps.

Account for donations:

Opferfonds CURA der Amadeu Antonio Stiftung
Deutsche Bank Bensheim
Konto (account): 030 331 331
BLZ (sort code): 509 700 04

For international donations:

IBAN: DE 91 5097 0004 0030 3313 31
BIC (SWIFT CODE): DEUTDEFF 509

Donations to the CURA Victim Support Fund are tax deductible. Up to an amount of 50 € you can use the deposit slip as a receipt for your tax declaration. For higher amounts, we will send you a donation receipt. In that case, please indicate your address on your remittance.

The Amadeu Antonio Foundation accounts for all donations in a professional, transparent, and responsible manner. Donations are paid out by the Foundation Executive Board. The independent Council of the Foundation oversees all such expenditure. The accounts are audited by H.-F. Breiler & H.-J. Schnabl OHG. The Foundation does not pay any premiums, commissions, or bonuses to agents or intermediaries for donations received. Please contact the Foundation at any time with any questions you may have about how donations are spent.

 

Help for the victims

If you are a victim of extremist violence, you can obtain professional help from our partners and from the specialist advice centers for victims of extremist violence.

Our partners offer help, support and advice to victims and their families. They help victims find good therapy and counseling services, provide assistance in seeking legal redress such as claims for financial damages and other entitlements. The advice centers support victims in day-to-day tasks like dealing with public authorities and by working with them on adjusting to life after the assault.

 

Aktion Zivilcourage, Pirna
www.zivilcourage-pirna.de
Tel.: 035 01-46 08 80

 

Amal - Advice Center for Victims of Right-Wing Violence in Saxony
www.amal-sachsen.de
Tel.: 0351-88 94 174 (Dresden)
0341-26 18 647 (Leipzig)
03425-85 15 41; 0172-974 36 74 (Wurzen)

 

Lobbi e.V. - Advice, Support and Information for Victims and Those Affected by Right-Wing Violence in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
www.lobbi-mv.de
Tel.: 0395-455 07 18 (Neubrandenburg)
0381-200 93 77 (Rostock)
0385-540 89 39 (Schwerin)

 

Mobile Advice for Victims of Extreme Right-Wing Violence in Saxony-Anhalt
www.mobile-opferberatung.de
Tel.: 0391-544 67 10 (Magdeburg)
03941-62 18 00 (Halberstadt)
0345-548 38 51 (Halle)
03901-30 64 31 (Salzwedel)

 

Opferperspektive Brandenburg - Advice for Victims of Extreme Right-Wing Violence
www.opferperspektive.de
Tel.: 0171-19 35 669

 

Reach Out - Advice and Education to Counter Right-Wing Extremism and Racism in Berlin
www.reachoutberlin.de
Tel.: 030-69 56 83 39

 

Thuringian Support Center for Victims of Extreme Right-Wing Violence. Advice for Victims of Extreme Right-Wing Violence, Their Families, Friends and Witnesses
www.opferhilfsdienst.de
Tel.: 03641-80 13 66

 

Zara - Civil Courage and Anti-Racism Work (Austrian advice centre)
www.zara.or.at
Tel.: 0043-1-929 13 99

Our local partners are in constant contact with us and will pass your case on to us. In this way, the CURA Victim Support Fund is also able to help you. You can also apply directly to CURA yourself.

 

The following organizations also provide help:

• Anti-Racist Helpline Berlin: 030-785 72 81
• Anti-Racist Helpline Hamburg: 040-43 15 87
• Anti-Racist Helpline Marburg: 06421-17 66 06
• Anti-Racist Helpline Duisburg: 0203-935 74 99
• Child and Youth Helpline: 0800-111 03 33
• Child Emergency Line: 0800-151 60 00
• Help for Young People Affected by Violence, “KIT” Hotline: 0177-660 33 02
• Gay Assault Line “Maneo”, Berlin (17:00-19:00): 030-216 33 36
• German Association of Lawyers, contact office: 030-726 15 20

Other contacts include the “White Ring/Der Weiße Ring e.V.”, a national organization that helps the victims of crime and their families (www.weisser-ring.de). There are officials responsible for migration, refugees, and integration at all administrative levels of the German system (national, regional, district, and municipal). You may contact such a person who can offer help and advice in individual cases.

Support offered by the CURA Victim Support Fund

To receive financial support from the CURA Victim Support Fund, contact one of our local partners or apply directly to the CURA Victim Support Fund.

There are no forms to fill in when applying for financial support from CURA. Applications should be in writing and should include a description of the assault:

• What were the circumstances in which the assault took place?
• What exactly happened?
• Who is/are the victim(s)?
• Who is/are the perpetrator(s)?
• Has the assault been reported to the police?
• What are the victim’s injuries?
• What is the victim’s physical and psychological condition?
• Was any material damage caused?
• For what specific purpose is financial support required?

A brief description of the police investigation and legal prosecution of the assault as well as details of any witnesses is also helpful. Has there been any public reaction to the assault? Send your signed application, including details of your bank account to:

Opferfonds CURA der Amadeu Antonio Stiftung
Linienstr. 139
10115 Berlin

Picture: "Amrit..." (Creative Commons)