Cologne police reject charges of racial profiling, defend New Year’s Eve security tactics
In a bid to prevent a repeat of last year’s sex attacks, state police focused on men of North African descent on New Year’s Eve. Police Chief Jürgen Mathies has faced criticism for praising the success of the practice.
In the face of a heated debate in Germany over the alleged use of racial profiling during New Year’s Eve celebrations on Sunday, police in the German city of Cologne defended their tactics.
Speaking to the press, Police Chief Jürgen Mathies admitted that yes, officers had specifically targeted men who appeared to be of North African extraction to undergo police checks, but said that “for the vast majority, there was a clear threat of criminal activity present.” He also stressed that the security checks had not only targeted people of North African appearance.
Authorities also came under fire for the use of the shorthand “Nafri” to refer to these men – openly and on social media.
“At the central station we have checked hundreds of Nafris,” read an update on the official Twitter account for the Cologne branch of North Rhine-Westphalia state police.
Green party co-chair Simone Peter said the heightened security in the city clearly limited violence and attacks during this year’s celebrations – but she questioned the legality of police tactics.
“It raises the question of proportionality and legality when around 1,000 people were checked and partially detained based on their appearance alone,” Peter told the “Rheinischen Post.”
http://www.theafricancourier.de/europe/cologne-police-reject-charges-of-racial-profiling-defend-new-years-eve-security-tactics/
This racial profiling incident in Cologne 2016/2017 was widely reported in international Press as well as in German media. Below are a few prominent ones from English language press from different countries. For German language press reportings go to: http://www.polizei-gewalt.com/die-polizei-lugt/#sthash.LXi2wzs5.dpbs
“New Year’s Eve in Cologne”: The scapegoating of Muslims and refugees deepens, By Lena Sokoll
3 January 2017 : https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/01/03/colo-j03.html
Cologne police accused of racial profiling for New Year celebrations, Monday 2 January 2017 10:32 UTC : http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/cologne-police-accused-racial-profiling-over-increased-new-year-security-1397002127
Cologne Police Attacked for ‘Racial Profiling’ During New Year’s Eve Security Operation, by Oliver JJ Lane2 Jan 2017: http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/01/02/cologne-police-attacked-racial-profiling-new-years-eve-security-operation/
German Police Deny Accusations of Racial Profiling After New Year’s Eve Screening, By Reuters On 1/2/17 at 11:27 AM: http://europe.newsweek.com/german-police-racial-profiling-cologne-attacks-537738?rm=eu
Cologne police detain hundreds of ‘North African’ men over New Year, Rory Mulholland, 1 January 2017 • 5:17pm: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/01/cologne-police-detain-hundreds-north-african-men-new-year/
Cologne Police Defend Racial Profiling On New Year’s Eve, By Sarah Rieger, Posted: 01/03/2017 8:11 pm EST: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/01/03/cologne-police_n_13945080.html
Cologne police deny racial profiling after mass screening of North African men, Caroline Mortimer, Sunday 1 January 2017:: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/cologne-police-deny-accusations-of-racial-profiling-after-new-years-screening-tweet-a7504981.html
Cologne police under fire for alleged racial profiling on New Year’s Eve, By Nadine Schmidt and Lauren Said-Moorhouse, January 2, 2017: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/02/europe/cologne-police-alleged-racial-profiling/
Cologne police ‘right to target North Africans’ at new year, 2 January 2017: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38488854
In the white bubble. Criticising racist police checks should be a civic duty in Germany. Instead, the critics are now being vilified. A commentary by Daniel Bax. Qantara.de 2017: https://en.qantara.de/content/nafri-debate-after-new-years-eve-in-cologne-in-the-white-bubble