The Berlin Constitutional Court has ruled in favor of the AfD, stating that the Berlin Senate incorrectly rejected an application for information regarding knife crimes. The Senate's rationale centered on concerns that revealing the suspects' first names could lead to their identification, potentially resulting in discrimination.
However, the court deemed this justification insufficient. It emphasized the necessity for the Senate to respect parliamentary rights, which include providing information requested by opposition parties.
The court's decision mandates the Senate to reassess the AfD's inquiry about the most common first names among suspects in knife-related offenses. Notably, the court found no significant risk of identifying individuals through this information.
While the Senate expressed concerns about the potential for discrimination against individuals with migration backgrounds, the court did not consider this a valid reason to withhold information. In 2023 alone, Berlin recorded a staggering 3,482 knife attacks, highlighting the urgency for transparent data on such incidents.
The ruling underscores the balance between privacy rights and the public's right to information, particularly in the context of public safety and crime prevention.
