Berlin, Oct 24, IRNA , The German neo-Nazi party is actively recruiting new members in Berlin-area high schools, the daily Der Tagesspiegel reported Wednesday.
The National Democratic Party (NPD) alleged that it distributed its far-right school newspapers at 20 schools in two east German states, Berlin and Brandenburg.
Around half of the 20,000 editions of the school newspaper have been already distributed in front of schools.
According to Michael Kraske who is an investigative journalist and author of a new book on right-wing extremism in Germany, more social workers have to be sent to schools ‘to raise awareness among students about the problem of right-wing extremism’.
“Right-wing extremists are massively wooing students in schools,” said Kraske, while pointing out that Neo-Nazis have changed their strategy to appear more mainstream.
“Neo-Nazis are trying to infiltrate the mainstream of German society by joining local football clubs and volunteering for the neighborhood fire department,” he added.
The NPD has made international headlines over the past three years after winning key regional elections in east Germany.
Although there have been calls by the German public to outlaw the neo-Nazi party, the German government is wary of a new legal bid to bar the NPD after the country’s highest court in 2003 blocked a previous attempt to ban the right-wing extremist party.
The court refused to hear the case because the government cited statements by party members who turned out to be paid informers for state authorities.