Saarlouis remembers Samuel Yeboah: memorial plaque unveiled!

Saarlouis remembers Samuel Yeboah: memorial plaque unveiled!

On June 27, 2025, a memorial plaque was unveiled in Saarlouis for Samuel Yeboah, a refugee from Ghana who died 30 years ago in a suspected right-wing extremist arson attack. The plaque was handed over by Aktion 3. Welt Saar and will now be displayed in the foyer of the town hall. To commemorate this tragic event, numerous citizens came together to commemorate the victims of xenophobia and violence. In recent years there have been calls for a complete clarification of the events, especially after the investigation was reopened almost five years ago due to new findings. tagesschau.de reports that the memorial plaque was made in 2001, but was only briefly displayed at the town hall and was then removed. A sign of remembrance is now the information board that was set up next to the former asylum seekers' home in 2021 and provides information about the background to the attack.

The memorial service, which took place as part of this special occasion, was organized by the city administration, the Protestant parish and the Catholic parish community. In moving words, the city councilor, Günter Melchior, recalled the racist incidents in Saarlouis and at that time. Before September 19, 1991, the date of the attack, there had already been five attacks on asylum centers in the city. Melchior warned that the memory of this incident should be kept alive so as not to forget the dangers of right-wing extremism that are still evident in Germany today. saarbruecker-zeitung.de explains that 18 other people were injured in the attack, which underlines the scope and brutality of the act.

A call for tolerance

Pastor Volker Hassenpflug spoke at the memorial service about the fears and hopes of those affected at the time. He and Deacon Arnulf Schmitz led the ecumenical service, which gave those present the opportunity to pause and reflect. They asked fundamental questions about society's willingness to deal with racism and its consequences. Among the guests were four refugees who came to Germany in recent years and shared their unpleasant experiences. Ahmad Sinou, one of them, expressed the hope that his children would be accepted in Germany, while Amal Haj Othman emphasized the desire for security and participation in society.

Samuel Yeboah's tragic story is not just a personal loss, but also reflects the challenge facing society as a whole to defend itself against racism and xenophobia. Together with the memorial plaque, this is intended to be a symbol of tolerance and against the violence of right-wing extremism. The increase in right-wing extremist crimes in Germany, which, according to bpb.de, has increased in the last decade, is a clear warning signal: More than 23,000 right-wing extremist acts were recorded in 2020, including numerous acts of violence. In times when the discrepancy between social acceptance and exclusion seems greater than ever, it is more important than ever to stand together.