According to statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in Germany, there were 761 cases of gang rape registered by the German police last year. This means an average of about 2 incidents of this type of male violent crime every day. The Federal Criminal Police Office stated that the police statistics include cases where “according to the investigation results, it can be confirmed that one or more suspects were involved in the crime,” which also includes crimes where the suspects cannot be identified.
The situation in the capital Berlin is particularly severe, with 111 cases of gang rape registered in 2023. The states of Brandenburg (3 cases) and Thuringia (2 cases) were least affected by these crimes.
Within this criminal group, a total of 990 suspects were found in Germany, with 52.5% holding German passports and 47.5% being foreigners. Among these suspects, Syrians (71 individuals), Afghans (49 individuals), Iraqis (43 individuals), and Turks (33 individuals) made up the largest proportion.
In 2018, Germany first recorded data on cases where one or more men committed rape, with a total of 659 cases recorded at that time. Subsequently, in 2019 (710 cases), 2020 (704 cases), and 2021 (677 cases), followed by a significant increase in the number of cases in 2022 (789 cases). In all these years, the proportion of non-German suspects ranged between 46% and 50%.
According to figures from the Federal Statistical Office, Germany’s total population exceeds 84 million. By the end of 2023, the number of foreigners registered in Germany was approximately 13.9 million, representing a 4% increase from the previous year. Those with immigrant backgrounds numbered 23.9 million, while the total number of refugees was around 3.12 million.
Nahlah Saimeh, a forensic psychologist from Dusseldorf, stated: “Sociologists and criminal psychologists unanimously believe that a growth environment of violence and humiliation, a disdain for women, a male-dominant attitude, and a widespread willingness to use violence contribute to sexual violence. You will also find these characteristics in many domestic abusers.” Furthermore, cultural influences determine the status of women in society, as Saimeh noted: “This is precisely where immigrants serve as a risk factor, as these perpetrators have a strong male-dominant attitude, lack cross-cultural identity, and remain marginalized.”
Herbert Reul, the Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia (Christian Democratic Union), said: “Anyone who comes to our country, whether as a refugee, on vacation, in transit, or to work, must abide by our laws. Criminal offenses by non-Germans remain a significant issue that cannot be resolved by the police alone. The federal government must find ways to reduce illegal immigration. This also involves the issue of repatriation, and I expect more efforts from the federal government in this regard.”
However, when responding to a question from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group about the “causes of criminal offenses under immigrant backgrounds,” the federal government stated: “There are no plans to carry out specific research projects to clearly address the reasons and impacts of immigrants in the field of sexual crimes.” Christoph de Vries, the CDU’s home affairs expert, believes this demonstrates a “lack of willingness to take action.” The government is allowing the establishment of “areas of fear and exclusion for women in cities.”
The government’s statement pointed out that immigrant groups differ from the general population in terms of “social demographics. Young males are a significant segment of the population with a crime rate significantly higher than average, regardless of their background.” People with immigrant backgrounds have certain risk factors that make them more likely to commit criminal offenses, such as poverty, experiences of violence, and uncertain prospects.