Assault of Ermyas Mulugeta
The assault of Ermyas Mulugeta happened late on
Assault
Ermyas Mulugeta was born c. 1969 in Ethiopia.
The next day, residents demonstrated in Potsdam against xenophobia, and there was a general outpouring of sympathy for the victim.[5] The attack then received national coverage in the media, and indicating how seriously the case was being taken, the Public Prosecutor General Kay Nehm took over the investigation. Some days later, two men were arrested, and it was alleged that they had hit Mulugeta with a bottle, knocked him to the ground and kicked him repeatedly.[2] One of the men had links to far-right movements, and they were both charged with racially motivated attempted murder.[3] They were flown by helicopter to the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe and appeared at the Federal Court of Justice.[5][6]
The apparent racial element of the attack caused national controversy, and
Trial and aftermath
The trial began on 7 February 2007 at Potsdam Regional Court.[5] Giving evidence, Mulugeta spoke slowly and had gaps in his memory. It was suggested that, like the two men, Mulugeta had also been drunk and that he had been the one who had started the confrontation.[9] Mulugeta had called the two attackers "pigs".[7] The charges against the two men were then dropped for lack of evidence on 15 June 2007;[2][5] the lead judge stated, "this is a classic case of the principle: when in doubt, give the accused the benefit of the doubt".[6] The men were then re-arrested and charged again, only to be released a second time.[6]
The assault took place amidst preparations for Germany to host the
In 2007, Mulugeta set up a foundation called Löwenherz (Lionheart) to teach schoolchildren about diversity. He then completed a PhD at the University of Rostock on the theme of optimization of the washing procedure for vegetables and potatoes (Optimierung des Waschprozesses für Gemüse und Speisekartoffeln).[1] Mulugeta stood for office in 2019 on behalf of the Pirate Party Germany in the district of Potsdam-Mittelmark; he also stood in local council elections in Borkheide.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Oelschläger, Volker (16 May 2019). "Kandidat für die Parteipiraten [Candidate for Pirate Party]". MAZ – Märkische Allgemeine (in German). Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-230-25116-8. Archivedfrom the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ a b Ndolo, Rosa-Maria. "A New Way of Dealing With the Past: The Young Generation in Germany Sheds Its Anxiety of Xenophobia". United Nations. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- S2CID 15819931.
- ^ a b c d "Potsdam: Der Überfall auf Ermyas Mulugeta [Potsdam: The Attack on Ermyas Mulugeta]". Der Spiegel (in German). 15 June 2007. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ a b c Diehl, Jörg (15 June 2007). "Kein Täter – nur Opfer [No perpetrator – only victim]". Der Spiegel (in German). Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ a b Moore, Michael Scott (24 April 2006). "The World from Berlin: A Near-Murder in Potsdam Goes Political". Der Spiegel. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Alleged Racial Attack Becomes Political Issue". Deutsche Welle. 24 April 2006. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ Friedrichsen, Gisela (9 February 2007). "Attacke auf Ermyas Mulugeta: Der Widerspruch zwischen Kopfmensch und "Schweinesau" [Assault of Ermyas Mulugeta: The contrast between thinker and "pig"]". Der Spiegel (in German). Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "World Cup Guide Highlights Germany's Racist Hotspots". Deutsche Welle. 3 May 2006. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.