Ahead of Sunday's state election in Saxony-Anhalt, migrants and minorities fear the first far-right victory in Germany's postwar history. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.

Iranian woman's fear

As the Bible study session wrapped up in Magdeburg, 44-year-old Fatemeh fought back tears. Three years ago, she fled Iran with her son after he was stopped by police during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. They ended up in Saxony-Anhalt, where, awaiting a final decision on their asylum claim, she has watched him blossom into a gifted athlete and develop a knack for repairing vehicles. But their fate may be decided by the election.

"I worry about it every day," she said. "I can't stop thinking about my son and what might happen to us."

AfD's promises

Polls suggest the AfD could win in Saxony-Anhalt, potentially forming Germany's first state government led by the far-right party. The AfD has promised to launch deportations "from day one."

"They might send us back to Iran," Fatemeh said. "As a converted Christian, that could mean the death penalty for me."

Migrant groups' appeal

Undra Dreßler of Lamsa, an umbrella group for migrant organisations, says people are calling daily, wrestling with whether to leave or stay. "We've never seen emotions run so high over an election," she said.

"People are really worried and scared," Dreßler added. "For those with migrant backgrounds, it feels like this vote is about their right to exist and their security."

In June, Lamsa appealed to Germany's 15 other states to prepare to take in refugees from Saxony-Anhalt after the election. "It's a precautionary measure," she said. "The social climate here is already extremely heated. We don't know what will happen after the elections."

Rise in racism

Tensions have been high since December 2024, when a Saudi man drove his car into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing six and injuring hundreds. Authorities described the attacker as an anti-Islam activist sympathetic to the far right. However, right-wing voices seized the moment to scapegoat migrants and minorities.

"By mid-2025, we had received as many reports of racist insults and attacks as we did in all of 2024," said Dreßler. "As forces on the right become stronger, everyday racism and discrimination have become part of everyday life."

Kirti, a 27-year-old student from India living in Magdeburg, often encounters racism. "When you're on the street, some people harass you verbally," he said. "They show you the middle finger."

Thoughts of leaving

A recent survey suggested that up to 80% of people with a migration background in Saxony-Anhalt are considering leaving. Ketevan Asatiani-Hermann, who leads the Advisory Council for Integration and Migration in Magdeburg, warns that the state depends on migrants. "So the fear is that we lose people because of what happens on 6 September," she said. "And Saxony-Anhalt is dependent on migrants, so it's absolutely necessary that they stay here."

Saxony-Anhalt is a rapidly depopulating state where the average age of 48.2 ranks as the highest in Germany.