Otto Schily
Otto Schily: A Life of Purpose and Activism
Full Name and Common Aliases
Otto Carl Oskar Schily was a prominent German politician, human rights activist, and journalist. He is commonly known as Hans-Jochen Vogel's successor in the position of German Federal Minister of the Interior.
Birth and Death Dates
Otto Schily was born on July 20, 1932, in Berlin, Germany. Unfortunately, there is limited information available regarding his death date.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Schily held German nationality throughout his life. His professional background spans multiple fields: he worked as a journalist, politician, and human rights activist.
Early Life and Background
Born into a family of modest means during a tumultuous period in German history, Schily's early life was marked by the influence of post-war Germany. His father was a Social Democratic Party (SPD) member who encouraged his son to engage with politics from an early age.
Schily pursued higher education at universities in Freiburg and Munich, where he studied law, economics, and sociology. During this time, he developed a strong interest in social justice and human rights.
Major Accomplishments
Otto Schily's career was marked by numerous significant accomplishments:
In 1969, Schily co-founded the SPD's Social Democratic Alliance for Integration and Participation, an initiative aimed at addressing the challenges faced by migrant communities in Germany.
He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1976 to 2005, focusing on issues related to human rights, refugee policy, and social justice.
As Federal Minister of the Interior from 1998 to 2005, Schily played a crucial role in shaping Germany's immigration policies and promoting international cooperation on counter-terrorism efforts.Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works and actions attributed to Otto Schily include:
In 1983, he founded the German Institute for Human Rights, which aimed to promote human rights awareness and education throughout Germany.
During his tenure as Federal Minister of the Interior, Schily oversaw significant changes to Germany's asylum law, including the introduction of a more streamlined and efficient processing system.Impact and Legacy
Otto Schily's contributions have had a lasting impact on German society and politics:
His commitment to social justice and human rights has inspired generations of activists and politicians.
* The reforms he implemented as Federal Minister of the Interior helped shape Germany's approach to immigration and counter-terrorism, influencing policies across Europe.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Otto Schily is widely quoted and remembered for his unwavering commitment to social justice and human rights. His legacy serves as a testament to the power of dedication and activism in shaping society.
Quotes by Otto Schily
We can no longer apply the classic criteria to clearly determine whether and when we should use military force. We are waging war in Afghanistan, for example, but it’s an asymmetrical war where the enemies are criminals instead of soldiers.
There is no question that Iraq is one of the main problems. You’d have to be blind not to see what a magnet and generating force it’s become for terrorist groups.
The military has been tremendously important in the past during catastrophes and in protecting the population. But it shouldn’t become an auxiliary police force.
We feel very honored to have been offered the responsibility to host this great event, Berlin is a wonderful city that is developing at a tremendous rate, and this decision means that we can now prepare to welcome the world’s best athletes to a fascinating place.
Incidentally, our railroad facilities are under video surveillance by the federal police. However, the federal and state governments will have to determine whether video surveillance shouldn’t be significantly expanded to a certain degree.
And now when we hear that Iran and Iraq plan to cooperate more closely and that a fundamentalist is coming to power in Tehran – a man about whom we cannot be sure that he is absolutely averse to terrorism – it is very worrisome.
It’s a mistake to assume that Islamists always come from the slums. Indeed, many come from affluent families but for some reason just couldn’t manage to integrate into Western society, even though they had good opportunities for advancement.
We cannot allow violence from militant activists to dictate where and how democratically elected state leaders hold their meetings.
I suggest setting up a corps of specially trained European riot police that can work at an international level to de-escalate problems and, where needed, effectively quell violence.
