Rechtsdaad

Rechtsdaad is a term encountered in Dutch and German discourse to refer to criminal acts motivated by right-wing or far-right ideology, or intended to support right-wing political goals. The term is not a fixed legal category in most jurisdictions; instead national police and courts categorize offenses as politically motivated, often distinguishing “rechts” (right) from “links” (left) and other motives. In Germany, authorities typically describe such offenses as politisch motivierte Straftaten – rechts, and in official statistics they are grouped under right-wing extremism. In the Netherlands and other Dutch-language contexts, rechtsdaad is used in media reporting and academic writing to label crimes committed for or motivated by right-wing ideology, including hate crimes, violence against minorities, desecration of religious or immigrant targets, or intimidation.

Examples of what may be described as rechtsdaad include racially or xenophobically motivated assaults, vandalism against mosques or synagogues, anti-Semitic or anti-immigrant crimes, and other acts intended to advance a right-wing agenda or to intimidate perceived opponents. However, definitions vary by country and organization, and the term often overlaps with more precise classifications such as hate crime or extremist crime.

Legal and policy implications: Governments monitor rechtsdaad as part of broader efforts to counter right-wing extremism. Critics argue that labeling alone can obscure motive or context and that precise categories improve accuracy for prevention and prosecution.

See also: right-wing extremism, politically motivated crime, hate crime, right-wing terrorism.