Solingen Facies

The Solingen Attack was a racist assault that occurred on the night of 29 May 1993 in the city of Solingen, located in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, resulting in the deaths of five Turkish women and a young girl. The incident, triggered by the arson of the home of the Genç family, is recorded as one of the deadliest racist attacks in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany since World War II.

^{Infographic of the Solingen Attack (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

The early 1990s were a period of profound political and social transformation in Germany. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the reunification of Germany in 1990 led to significant changes in the economic structure and social balance. During this period, migration from East Germany to the West, rising unemployment rates, and the restructuring of the welfare state contributed to widespread social unrest. At the same time, the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, political changes in Eastern Europe, and instability in the Middle East caused a marked increase in the number of asylum seekers arriving in Germany.

These developments triggered intense public and political debates, framed as an “asylum crisis.” In discussions within the Federal Parliament and the media, the growing number of asylum seekers was frequently portrayed as a “social burden” or a “security threat.” Between 1991 and 1993, demands to restrict asylum rights increased across Germany, and immigration and integration policies became central to public discourse. Leading newspapers of the time frequently used headlines such as “Das Boot ist voll” (“The Boat Is Full”), contributing to the strengthening of negative perceptions toward foreigners in society.

Within this atmosphere, the number of racist attacks in the country also rose. In 1991, attacks on refugee hostels in Hoyerswerda; in 1992, pogrom-like incidents in Rostock-Lichtenhagen; and the arson of two Turkish families’ homes in the town of Mölln in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, also in 1992, demonstrated the peak of social tension. In these events, many people were injured and several individuals, including children, lost their lives.

At the political level, mounting societal pressure following xenophobic actions led to a constitutional amendment aimed at restricting asylum rights in Germany. On 26 May 1993, the Federal Parliament adopted the “Asylkompromiss,” a constitutional change that limited Germany’s asylum policy. In the aftermath of this decision, attacks against immigrants and foreigners surged in a new wave.

A defining feature of this period was the targeting of immigrants, particularly communities of Turkish origin, amid increasing societal polarization. The majority of the Turkish population that had arrived in Germany since the 1960s under the “guest worker” (Gastarbeiter) program had become permanent residents, often as second-generation citizens. However, these groups faced narratives of “cultural incompatibility” and “foreignness” in certain segments of society.

The economic anxieties, national identity debates, and anti-immigrant political rhetoric of the early 1990s created a social environment conducive to the strengthening of racist violence.

The Solingen Attack occurred shortly after midnight on 30 May 1993 in the city of Solingen, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The incident began with the arson of a three-story detached house at Untere Wernerstraße 81, belonging to the Turkish-origin Genç family. At the time of the attack, 18 members of the family, spanning four generations, were inside the house. According to witness statements and fire department reports, the fire was discovered around 1:00 AM.

Technical investigations determined that gasoline or a similar flammable liquid had been poured into the building’s entrance area and then ignited, causing the fire. The wooden veranda on the front facade caught fire rapidly, enabling the flames to spread to upper floors. The stairwell was completely engulfed by fire, trapping the family members on the upper levels.

Many occupants of the house were in deep sleep when the fire broke out. Rapidly spreading flames produced thick smoke on the upper floors. Medical examinations at the scene revealed that most of the deceased had died from carbon monoxide poisoning, while some victims had been directly exposed to flames. The five victims were Gürsün İnce (28), Hatice Genç (19), Gülüstan Öztürk (12), Hülya Genç (9), and Saime Genç (4).

The other 13 people in the house survived with varying degrees of burns and injuries. Some escaped by jumping from windows or were rescued by neighbors. Firefighters, alerted by nearby residents, arrived quickly and managed to bring the fire under control, but much of the house was rendered unusable.

Following the attack, criminal investigations at the scene uncovered traces of flammable substances near the entrance and stairwell. These findings confirmed that the incident was a deliberate act of arson (Brandstiftung).

After the attack, police closely monitored neo-Nazi circles and racially motivated youth groups in the area. In the initial days, investigators considered various scenarios, including accidental fire; however, evidence collected at the scene and witness testimonies led authorities to conclude that the arson was an organized act motivated by racism.

^{Memorial to the Solingen Attack (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

The investigation launched after the Solingen Attack was conducted by local police and the Criminal Investigation Department of North Rhine-Westphalia. The discovery of flammable residue at the building’s entrance strengthened the initial conclusion that the fire had been deliberately set. Based on witness statements and physical evidence, several young men linked to far-right extremist circles in Solingen were placed under surveillance shortly after the attack.

In the following days, four German citizens aged between 16 and 23 — Felix Köhnen, Christian Reher, Christian Buchholz, and Markus Gartmann — were taken into custody. Investigations revealed their connections to local neo-Nazi groups, their xenophobic views, and prior involvement in racist acts. One suspect lived near the attack site and had allegedly been involved in previous arson attempts.

The case file was carefully prepared due to the largely circumstantial and technical nature of the evidence. Although none of the suspects confessed directly to involvement in the crime, the court concluded that the attack had been planned and carried out with racist motives. The trial, which began in October 1994 at the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court, lasted a total of 127 hearing days. During the proceedings, the planning of the attack, the materials used, and the defendants’ ties to neo-Nazi networks were examined in detail.

On 13 October 1995, the court delivered its verdict. Three of the defendants were sentenced to 15 years in prison, and one received a 10-year sentence. The ruling formally recognized that the crime had been committed “with racist and xenophobic motives.” However, because all defendants were minors at the time of the offense, their sentences were determined under Germany’s Juvenile Criminal Code (Jugendstrafrecht).

After serving their sentences in different prisons, all defendants were released in the early 2000s. Their identities were changed for security reasons and kept hidden from the public. This outcome sparked controversy, particularly among the victims’ families and the Turkish community in Germany. Many civil society organizations and legal experts argued that the sentences were disproportionate to the gravity of the crime.

The legal proceedings opened important debates in Germany regarding the investigation and prosecution of racist crimes. The Solingen case set a precedent for later cases — particularly the NSU (National Socialist Underground) trial — by encouraging judicial authorities to more clearly recognize and address racist motivations in similar incidents.

^{Victims of the Solingen Attack (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

The five individuals who lost their lives in the Solingen Attack were members of the Turkish-origin Genç family. The family had migrated to Germany from Turkey in the early 1970s under the “guest worker” program and had lived in Solingen for many years. Father Durmuş Genç and his wife Mevlüde Genç lived with their children and grandchildren in a multigenerational household. On the night of the attack, 18 family members from four generations were under the same roof. The victims were:

• Gürsün İnce (28) – The eldest daughter of the family. She tried to rescue her relatives on the upper floor during the fire and perished in the flames.
• Hatice Genç (19) – The second daughter of the family. She was on the second floor and could not escape due to heavy smoke.
• Gülüstan Öztürk (12) – Niece of Gürsün İnce, visiting from Turkey for a short stay. She was on the third floor and could not escape the fire.
• Hülya Genç (9) – Granddaughter of Kamil and Mevlüde Genç. She was in her bedroom and died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Saime Genç (5) – The youngest member of the family. She died while attempting to escape the building with her parents.

^{Victims of the Solingen Attack (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

Among those who survived were Mevlüde Genç and her husband Kamil Genç. Kamil Genç underwent prolonged hospital treatment due to severe burns. Despite losing two daughters, two grandchildren, and a niece, Mevlüde Genç gained widespread recognition for her appeals for peace and dialogue after the attack. She became a unifying figure in public life and, after her death in 2022, was honored with the Federal Cross of Merit of Germany for her consistent advocacy against racism.

The funerals of the five victims were attended by thousands in a joint ceremony involving communities from both Germany and Turkey. Some of the victims were buried in Solingen, while others were laid to rest in Turkey. The incident became not only a tragedy for one family but also a symbol of the fragile sense of security experienced by immigrant communities in Germany.

Today, at the address Untere Wernerstraße 81, a memorial plaque and commemorative site honor the five victims. Every year on 29 May, memorial ceremonies are held, during which the victims’ names are read aloud, with representatives from both Germany and Turkey in attendance. Thus, the victims of the Solingen Attack have secured a lasting place in the collective memory of society as symbols of resistance against racist violence.

Immediately after the attack, widespread reactions emerged in both Germany and Türkiye. The incident was perceived not merely as a racist assault on one family but as a concrete manifestation of anxieties regarding the safety and social integration of immigrants in Germany.

In the days following the attack, fear and anger prevailed among immigrant communities in Solingen and surrounding areas. Thousands participated in silent marches near the burned house and in the city center to protest racism. Simultaneously, demonstrations against xenophobia were held in many German cities, particularly Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, and Frankfurt. Trade unions, churches, civil society organizations, and human rights associations issued joint statements condemning racist violence as incompatible with the fundamental values of a democratic society.

Leading figures in German politics strongly condemned the attack. Shortly after the incident, then-President Richard von Weizsäcker called on all segments of society to assume responsibility. The President of the Federal Parliament, Rita Süssmuth, and numerous federal ministers visited Solingen to offer condolences to the family. However, Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s statement, “I will not go to Solingen because I oppose grief tourism,”^【1】 provoked public outrage and triggered a brief diplomatic tension in German-Turkish relations.

In Türkiye, the attack generated a major public response. The government officially protested the incident and demanded a thorough investigation by German authorities. Turkish media prominently featured the event under headlines such as “Solingen Massacre.” Protests were held outside German diplomatic missions in Ankara, Istanbul, and other major cities, and the incident was raised in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.

German political parties sought to present a unified response to the attack. Official statements at federal and state levels emphasized the necessity of a determined struggle against far-right extremist groups threatening democratic order. During this period, civil society initiatives played a crucial role in mobilizing diverse segments of society against racism. In Solingen, local residents launched long-term awareness campaigns under movements such as “Solinger Appell” and “SOS Rassismus.”

The attack shook the trust of the Turkish-origin population in Germany toward the state and society. At the same time, the solidarity initiatives that followed demonstrated the strengthened capacity of civil society to respond to racism. Numerous institutions — from churches and trade unions to student associations and local administrations — launched programs to support the social integration of immigrants.

The incident also attracted international attention. The Council of Europe, the European Parliament, and the United Nations Human Rights Commission called on Germany to implement comprehensive measures against xenophobia.

^{Memorial to the Solingen Attack (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

The incident temporarily strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. In Türkiye, public opinion and the media criticized the German state for failing to adequately protect its immigrants and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice. Turkish media extensively covered the attack, and protests were held outside German diplomatic missions in major cities such as Ankara, Istanbul, and İzmir. The Turkish government formally called on Germany to conduct an effective investigation and ensure justice.

Following the attack, Türkiye expressed its concerns, through diplomatic channels, regarding the safety of approximately two million Turkish-origin immigrants living in Germany. The Turkish government urged Germany to adopt structural measures to protect immigrants. At the same time, Turkish associations, mosque communities, and labor federations in Germany called for dialogue with German authorities.

The Solingen Attack has become one of the defining symbols of both racist violence and societal confrontation in modern German history. It not only claimed the lives of five individuals but also initiated a long-term public debate on migration, identity, citizenship, and integration.

Today, Solingen continues to be regarded both as a symbol and a test of Germany’s progress on democracy, tolerance, and multiculturalism.