Mon 24 Apr 06
The old Nazis meet the new Nazis
German officials are nervous about activity by extreme-right organizations during the World Cup, at least some of whom can barely contain their enthusiasm for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Iran:
A worrisome Berliner Tagesspiegel report on March 30 stated that right-wing extremists, in Germany and internationally, were preparing to disturb the sports event, taking advantage of the heavy workload of the police and security forces. For further provocation, they are planning to distribute a CD containing neo-Nazi music among the soccer fans.
The German extreme-right-wing party NPD, which has repeatedly been on the brink of a judicial ban for spreading fascist ideas, plans to show solidarity with Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who enjoys a certain popularity among German neo-Nazis for his denial of the Holocaust and his anti-Israel policy. Freely adapted from this year’s World Cup motto “The world visiting friends,” the regional NPD group of the east German region of Saxony titles its home page: “We are looking forward to Iran - Welcome to Leipzig!”
The NPD is also pushing for an all-white German national team. Meanwhile, there’s nothing I can write which would do justice to this:
German police are afraid - particularly with regard to Iran’s games - that Polish hooligans could collaborate with German neo-Nazis.
Speaking of Iran, the government is finally going to let women attend football matches.
Damian P.
