Germany Commemorates 40th Anniversary of Ramazan Avcı's Neo-Nazi Murder, Calls for Official Recognition

Commemoration in Hamburg

Germany recently commemorated the 40th anniversary of the death of Ramazan Avcı, a Turkish migrant worker who was brutally killed in a neo-Nazi attack in Hamburg in 1985. A poignant memorial ceremony was held on December 22, 2025, at Ramazan Avcı Square, a public space named in his honor. The event brought together his family, government officials, lawmakers, and representatives from civil society, underscoring the enduring impact of the tragedy and the ongoing struggle against racism and far-right extremism.

The 1985 Attack and Its Aftermath

Ramazan Avcı, then 26 years old, was attacked by a group of approximately 30 neo-Nazis on December 21, 1985, near the Landwehr S-Bahn station in Hamburg-Eilbek. Avcı, who had moved to Hamburg at the age of 22 from Gönen, Turkey, was returning from selling his car to buy a baby bed for his unborn child when the unprovoked assault occurred. He sustained severe injuries, including a fractured skull, pelvis, and legs, and succumbed to his wounds three days later. His son, also named Ramazan, was born just ten days after his father's death. Avcı's murder is widely regarded as one of the earliest fatal racist attacks on migrants in post-war Germany.

Calls for Justice and Official Recognition

During the commemoration, powerful calls were made for German authorities to officially recognize Avcı's murder as a racially motivated crime and to issue a formal apology. Gülistan Avcı, Ramazan Avcı's widow, delivered an impassioned plea against complacency, urging attendees to 'See racism, hear it, and do not remain silent.' Unal Zeran, representing the Ramazan Avcı Commemoration Initiative, emphasized that such official recognition would be a crucial step towards justice and historical accountability. Speakers at the event also connected Avcı's death to a broader pattern of far-right violence in Germany, with Faruk Arslan, who lost relatives in the 1992 Mölln arson attack, stressing that combating racism is a fundamental responsibility of society as a whole.

A Symbol Against Racism

The establishment of Ramazan Avcı Square and the memorial within it serve as a permanent public reminder of his story, transforming a personal tragedy into a symbol of the ongoing struggle against racist violence. The ceremony saw the presence of dignitaries including Berati Alver, Türkiye's consul general in Hamburg. The event took place amidst renewed scrutiny in Germany over persistent far-right extremism, prompting national debates on how the country confronts its history and protects minority communities.