The Turkish community in Germany is concerned about the rise of the AfD party in Saxony-Anhalt

The success of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which received nearly one in two votes in the regional parliament elections in Saxony-Anhalt, has sparked nationwide alarm. People of Turkish origin in Germany are particularly concerned.

Gokay Sofoglu, co-chair of the Turkish community in Germany, tells of his personal meetings with shop owners in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. He told DW: "After the success of the Alternative for Germany party, some people thought about closing their shops and leaving the state of Saxony-Anhalt first and then Germany."

He adds that these are just emotional thoughts at first. After all, it is difficult for people to give up their source of livelihood overnight and leave. He explains: “We had the opportunity again to talk to some of them. They are waiting until the government is formed.”

“A problem that concerns all of Germany.”

People of Turkish origin in that state now consider the rise of the AfD "a problem that concerns the whole of Germany." Sofoglu said that this development should be viewed not only from the perspective of immigrants, but also from the perspective of German democracy. Ultimately, Germany's future stability is at stake.

According to Sofoglu, the AfD is exploiting the issue of immigration in its policy, but its real goal is the German constitution and democracy. He believes that many people of Turkish origin view this development from their own perspective too much.

“As much as the rise of the Alternative Party will affect us, it generally represents an anti-democratic development, which must be confronted in cooperation with all democratic forces.”

Added to this is the fear of further escalation of right-wing violence. “There is a fear that attacks such as those carried out by the National Socialist Secret Group will increase in the coming days and that their circumstances will not be revealed,” Sofoglu said.

"Worrying alone achieves nothing"

However, concern about increasing right-wing violence is only part of the discussion. Alaz Sommer, a lawyer and immigration expert, warns against just worrying. “I don't think worry alone achieves anything. The reasons must be thought about," he says in an interview with DW. "I see that the traditional parties did not adequately deal with the problems that led to the AfD becoming so strong."

Sommer came to Germany nine years ago to study. Today, he is working on his doctoral thesis on far-right parties and advising members of the immigrant community on the recognition of diplomas obtained abroad.

Looking back over the past years, he adds: “To say that the AfD is bad and dangerous is the easy way out. We already know that."

“Success was expected.”

Ermak Bozturk, a name we have changed at her request, also lived for many years in East Germany. She came to Leipzig twelve years ago to study. She believes that the Alternative Party's victory is "worrying, but not surprising."

"It was expected that the extreme right would achieve high results and emerge from the elections as the strongest party, but the government's policy far from the citizen is what paved the way for this result as well."

However, the rise of the AfD does not change any of the structural problems that Germany suffers from, says Bozturk: “Even with a change in government, the demand for the workforce and young people will not change, especially in a state with an aging population like Saxony-Anhalt.”

“Banning the AfD would be counterproductive.”

Meanwhile, lawyer Sommer urges caution in dealing with the AfD. He describes the party as a right-wing extremist that is now "a reality in Germany." He believes that banning the party would strengthen it instead.

If the AfD is banned, a new party will be founded, while far-right forces may join underground organizations. Sommer believes that Germany will thus become "more difficult to live in" for immigrants.

Instead, he calls for engaging in dialogue with AfD voters and understanding their motivations. The problem of racism in Germany is bigger than the AfD itself. The problems faced by immigrants are not limited to this party.

According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, in 2025, approximately 249,000 people of immigrant origins lived in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, which has a population of about two million people, including 6,120 people of Turkish origin. Nationally, many sources estimate the number of people of Turkish origin at between three and four million.

Prepared in Arabic by: M.A.M

Edited by: Youssef Boviglin