Youth violence between boredom, peer pressure and cultural conflicts

Such cases, which unfortunately occur frequently, raise uncomfortable questions about the extent to which certain insular social milieus, ideas of honor or religiously influenced role models encourage a willingness to use violence and group dynamics when they are not clearly confronted with the rules of the rule of law.

If, as in this case, brutal attacks are explained as “boredom”, it must be openly discussed whether integration, education and prevention work has sufficiently taken cultural and religious influences into account or ignored problematic norms for too long out of fear of stigmatization.

It is crucial whether we as a society are prepared to identify cultural backgrounds in a differentiated manner without generalizing them and being seen as intolerant.