Germany's black lawmaker decides not to run in 2025 polls after years of racist abuse, 'death threats'

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) – Germany's African-born black parliamentarian from the Social Democratic party has announced that he will not run in the 2025 federal election after years of racist abuse, including death threats, media reports said Wednesday.

“I have received several death threats in the last few years. A red line has now been reached,” Karamba Diaby said in a podcast interview with the Politico news magazine.

Diaby, who represents the eastern German city of Halle, has revealed that he and his staff have received hate mail in recent years, including racist slurs and death threats.

The 62-year-old lawmaker also complained about a hostile atmosphere that has persisted since the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered parliament seven years ago.

“The tone in the German Bundestag has become rougher since 2017. We hear aggressive speeches from colleagues in the AfD. We hear derogatory and hurtful content in these speeches," he said.

“This is really a completely new situation compared to 2013 to 2017. This aggressive style of speech is a breeding ground for violence and aggression on the streets,” he added.

Diaby, who holds a PhD in chemistry, was born in Senegal and moved to what was then East Germany in 1985.

His constituency office in Halle has been the target of an arson attack and has had bullets fired through the window.

Several staff members have faced blackmail attempts to stop working for him and have been subjected to abuse and threats, he said.