German minorities in Saxony-Anhalt defy far-right AfD after election win

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won nearly 44 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt's state election, marking its first such victory since World War II and intensifying fears of racist abuse among migrants and minorities. Syrian-born German citizen Alaa Yakoub Agha faced racist abuse on election day, while local candidate Mamad Mohamad says many migrants are considering leaving due to safety concerns, though he insists "Saxony-Anhalt is our home, too." The AfD's manifesto includes deportations, segregated classrooms for refugee children, and limits on Islamic expression. Opposition parties may still form a coalition to keep the AfD from power, but the party's rise reflects broader European far-right momentum. Saxony-Anhalt has a relatively low foreign-national share at 7.9 percent, compared to Berlin's 22.5 percent, where regional elections are due September 20.