E/CN.4/1995/78 page 15 72. One of the first steps taken by the IGR, in February 1993, was the federal campaign against right-wing, extremist skinhead activities, since the IGR considered it essential to put a stop to the music common in skinhead circles, with lyrics that are punishable under the criminal law. These songs express a thinly disguised racism and advocate anti-Semitism, xenophobia and violence. Often concerts given by skinhead groups were accompanied or followed by violence, and the songs - also propagated through the various musical media - as well as the behaviour of skinhead groups at these concerts (cries of "Sieg Heil!" and salutes to Hitler) aroused the audience. In the IGR’s view, simultaneous enforcement measures throughout Germany were necessary to achieve the desired effect. The so-called "Notenschlüssel" campaign was thus devised to counter producers and distributors of skinhead music. 73. The IGR is also keeping a very close watch on the dissemination in Germany of neo-Nazi propaganda material, particularly flags, insignia and arm-bands bearing a swastika, neo-Nazi and anti-Semitic literature, videos, posters and stickers, and the journal NS-Kampfruf, which is published in nine languages. In particular, the stickers with swastikas which can be found throughout Germany (they are plastered all over the place during the night) pave the way for xenophobia and violence. For years now, the German police have been trying to stem this tide of propaganda material and to locate the distribution services (isolated "cells"). Apart from the activities of the IGR, magazines, books and music are scrutinized with a view to detecting any right-wing extremist or neo-Nazi thinking. Where this exists, steps to ban the material concerned are initiated and criminal law measures are envisaged. 74. On the basis of information provided by the police, the Federal Minister of the Interior banned the Nationalistische Front (NF) on 27 November 1992, the Deutsche Alternative (DA) on 10 December 1992, and the Nationale Offensive (NO) on 22 December 1992, and ordered the immediate enforcement of these measures. In addition, the Minister of the Interior of the Land of Lower Saxony exercised his regional powers to ban the Deutsche Kameradschaftsbund Wilhelmshaven (DKB). All premises of these organizations and the apartments of many of their members were searched, and large quantities of documents, propaganda material and possessions were confiscated. Under the law, these organizations have been prohibited from engaging in any activity, under pain of criminal prosecution and enforcement measures. 75. The State has thus sent an unmistakeable message that it is no longer prepared to tolerate this permanent agitation, directed mainly against foreigners, which instils in part of the population a xenophobic attitude that incites it to commit violent acts. On 9 December 1992, the Federal Government lodged an initial request with the Federal Constitutional Court to deprive two recognized rightist extremists of their fundamental rights in accordance with article 18 of the Constitution. If this request is granted, the individuals concerned, for a length of time set by the Court, will be forbidden from publicly expressing their opinion on political issues, propagating their political views, participating in or organizing political meetings and being active within or on behalf of organizations with political aims. For as long as they are deprived of their fundamental rights, they are also deprived of their right to be elected.