German swimming pools as a lawless area? Police and citizens demand clear consequences
German swimming pools as a lawless area? Police and citizens demand clear consequences
MFRadio.de | Editorial Office Germany | July 4, 2025
What should actually be a place of relaxation and joie de vivre is increasingly becoming a place of fear for many visitors: Public outdoor pools in Germany are increasingly in the headlines - not because of the weather, but because of sexual assaults, violence and chaos by young refugee men who have found refuge in Germany. The latest case from Gelnhausen not only shocks the local population.
Nine girls sexually harassed - all perpetrators at large again
On Sunday, June 22, massive sexual assaults occurred in the outdoor pool of Gelnhausen: According to the police, four men with a Syrian migration background are said to have repeatedly touched nine girls between the ages of 11 and 17 indecently all over their bodies in the whirlpool pool - and this despite the fact that the girls repeatedly asked the men to to refrain from doing so.
The police temporarily arrested four suspects, determined their identities - but a short time later they were released again. The public prosecutor's office saw "no risk of recurrence" and no legal grounds for detention on remand.
Mayor distracts with "heat theory"
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The public appearance of the mayor of Gelnhausen, Christian Litzinger (CDU), caused particular horror. In an interview with Welt, he explained:
"At high temperatures, tempers are sometimes on edge."
Instead of clearly condemning the acts, he downplayed the situation - and spoke of a "shitstorm" against himself, while in a video he presented himself as a victim of public criticism.
These statements triggered outrage nationwide. Critics accused him of relativizing perpetrator behavior and neglecting the protection of victims.
Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU), on the other hand, showed a clear stance:
"Anyone who commits sexual offences in swimming pools as an asylum seeker has no right to stay here in my view," he explained. He called for a quick and complete investigation - and clear consequences for perpetrators who violate our legal system.
More cases – the problem is systemic
The case of Gelnhausen is not alone. On the same day, a 12-year-old girl was groped and almost drowned by two Syrians (18 and 20 years old) in another outdoor pool. The incident received little media attention.
Especially in federal states such as North Rhine-Westphalia and in Berlin outdoor pools, violent clashes, sexual assaults and downright riots now occur almost daily. Security personnel are overwhelmed in many places – and the rule of law seems to be hesitating.
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Responsibility instead of relativization
What still needs to happen before politicians act? The warnings are getting louder: More and more citizens perceive swimming pools as unsafe zones. Parents are afraid to let their children swim alone. Employees in outdoor pools report conditions that remind them of civil war-like scenes.
This is not about blanket judgments, but about consistent law enforcement. Anyone seeking protection in Germany must also abide by the rules. Anyone who harasses or abuses women and children forfeits this right.
MFRadio says: Enough appeasement – clear boundaries are needed
It is not "populism" to point out grievances – it is the duty of a free society. Anyone who is assaulted in shelters such as outdoor pools must not hope for lenient judges or political excuses. The rule of law must take a clear stance. Anything else would be a dangerous signal – to perpetrators as well as victims.
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Author: MF editorial team
Source: Reuters,Nius
