Around 150 migrant-owned businesses in Magdeburg, the capital of the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, temporarily closed their doors on Wednesday in a coordinated protest against the growing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The five-hour closure was organised with the backing of the Saxony-Anhalt Refugee Council, which said the initiative was intended to warn about the potential consequences of an AfD victory in the state’s September 6 election.
“We are closing our doors today so that the doors to a free and democratic society do not close tomorrow,” the Refugee Council said in support of the campaign.
The AfD is currently leading strongly in opinion polls ahead of the election and is seeking to form a state government in Saxony-Anhalt for the first time. The party has placed migration and deportation at the centre of its political agenda.
Germany’s domestic intelligence service classifies the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt as right-wing extremist. The party has also called for what it describes as a “deportation and remigration offensive”, a position that has heightened concerns among migrant communities and refugee organisations.
The shop closures were designed to demonstrate the economic and social contribution of migrants while drawing attention to fears over rising hostility and discrimination.
Saaeid Saaeid of the Saxony-Anhalt Refugee Council told German public broadcaster ARD that many participating business owners were increasingly concerned about hostility towards migrants.
The council said migrants in the state had reported growing experiences of racism and social exclusion, particularly as the election campaign has intensified.
It warned that political rhetoric questioning whether people with migrant backgrounds belong in German society was contributing to fear and uncertainty.
The organisation also criticised calls for mass deportations and the exclusion of people with migration histories, arguing that such proposals threaten social cohesion.
The protest comes as migration remains one of the most politically divisive issues in Germany. The AfD has sought to strengthen its position by campaigning for tougher immigration controls, increased deportations and policies aimed at encouraging migrants to leave Germany.
The Refugee Council said the campaign was intended to promote a society in which a person’s background does not determine whether they are accepted as part of the community.
The organisation emphasised that human dignity, equality and social inclusion should remain fundamental principles of German society.
The Magdeburg action also highlights the growing political anxiety among migrant communities ahead of the state election, with business owners using their shops as a platform to express concerns about the country’s direction on migration and integration.