Last update - 00:00 20/09/2006
German gov't threatens to halt funding of anti neo-Nazi projects
By Haaretz Service
Some 400 projects dedicated to fighting extreme right wing and Nazi groups in Germany are in danger of losing their funding, the German publication Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Wednesday.
The ministry of family affairs in Germany has decided to change its policy regarding the ongoing battle against the extreme right. Those involved in the battle feel the policy change could "push East Germany back five years" in its struggle against extremism.
The ministry of family affairs has been funding some 1,500 projects under the umbrella movement "Youth for Tolerance and Democracy" since 2001. The ministry allotted 19 million euros every year for these projects up until now.
The federal government in Germany is now expressing a desire to pull out of these projects, and place the entire burden of funding on the individual districts and municipalities.
However, it is unlikely that the poor Eastern Germany districts would be able to procure the necessary resources. Some local authorities have even announced they do not wish to participate in these projects.
The ministry of family affairs is planning to divide the budget for these projects into individual mini-budgets, which the local authorities would be required to provide. As a result of this reform, many of the projects will be forced to shut down.
Among the better known anti neo-Nazi programs is the "Exit" project, which assists neo-Nazi youth in breaking away from their social environment. The project helps teens deal with the fear of losing social acceptance as well as fear of violent reactions from their former friends.