Memorial event for NSU victims: family fights against forgetting

Memorial event for NSU victims: family fights against forgetting

In a few days, on June 15, 2025, Theodoros Boulgarides' family will hold a memorial service at the Stachus in Munich. The murder of Boulgarides, who was shot dead in his locksmith shop on June 15, 2005, is inextricably linked to the dark history of the right-wing extremist NSU. Boulgarides was the seventh victim of this terrorist cell and the second Munich victim after Habil Kilic, who was murdered in 2001. As the tz reported, the memorial service begins at 12 p.m. under the motto “Remembrance work is resistance to forgetting.” This event was organized in close collaboration with the Department for Democracy.

The mayor of the Green Party, Dominik Krause, will use the opportunity to emphasize that the murder of Boulgarides represents a “dark part of our city’s history”. He advocates the determined fight against the growing right-wing extremism that is still present in our society. “It is important that we never forget such acts and actively work against hatred and racism,” said Krause.

Boulgarides family and their appeal

The family's sympathy is also visible. Daughter Lina Boulgarides says that remembrance work not only stands against hate, but also stands for hope and a better future. Her mother, Mandy Boulgarides, sums it up perfectly when she says that remembrance and responsibility for the future are inextricably linked. In a moving appeal, she recalled the importance of commemoration for the community and that every individual is called upon to take a stand.

The day before, a private memorial service with family and friends took place in front of Boulgarides' shop. This shows that the closeness of the family and the memory of the deceased are not only lived publicly, but also within the circle of confidants. The Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) and Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) are also expected to attend the big commemoration ceremony, which offers another opportunity to collectively process the horrors of the past.

A fight against the right

The memorial event comes at a time when tens of thousands of people across the country are taking to the streets to demonstrate against racism and right-wing extremism. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his thanks to the participants in these demonstrations in a post on the short message service X. These rallies show that Democrats outnumber the dividers, which many see as a positive signal from civil society. The reason for these protests is research by the medium “Correctiv”, which points to a meeting in Potsdam organized by right-wing extremists. The clear message: Racism has no place in our society and we must stand up together for the values ​​of democracy Deutschlandfunk reported.

Remembering the actions of the NSU and the ongoing efforts of civil society are inextricably linked. The memorial event at Stachus will provide an important opportunity to remember the victims and at the same time emphasize our own responsibility for a common future. Remembrance work is not just a look back, but also a task for action for today and tomorrow.