The Quiet Rise

Far-right extremism in Germany has become increasingly visible and normalized. “The Quiet Rise” documents neo-Nazi and far-right groups as they march openly through towns, gather in public spaces, and organize in private settings. The work follows these movements alongside counter-demonstrations and police interventions, tracing how extremist ideologies move from the margins into everyday life.

Rather than focusing on isolated incidents, this project observes patterns: the repetition of symbols, language, and rituals; the growing confidence of extremist networks; and the parallel presence of resistance in the streets. The photographs reveal how public space becomes contested terrain, where democratic values, historical memory, and extremist narratives collide.

By examining both confrontation and normalization, “The Quiet Rise” asks how societies recognize warning signs before they become irreversible. The project aims to document a moment in which extremism is no longer hidden, but increasingly accepted and tolerated, reshaping how safety, belonging, and democracy are understood.

Ashkan Shabani

Ashkan Shabani is a self-taught photographer, visual storyteller, and journalist based in Germany. He began photographing in his teenage years and started his professional career in 2016 with the local news agency DiyarMirza. In 2017, he joined the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), later taking on roles as photo editor, staff photographer, and freelance contributor for national and international outlets.

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Throughout his career, Shabani has documented a wide range of stories, from LGBTQ+ issues in the MENA region to presidential elections, natural disasters, human rights struggles, and mass protests in Iran. His work has been featured in publications such as Time, The Atlantic, Corriere Della Sera Sette, FT Weekend, GEO, Handelsblatt, Daily Mirror, ZDF, and others.

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In recent years, his practice has shifted from daily journalism toward long-term documentary investigations. He focuses on extremism, migration, and human rights, with particular attention to LGBTQ+ lives in the Middle East. In 2025, Shabani produced an investigative story on neo-Nazism in Germany for ZDF’s aspekte, developed through in-depth field reporting and covert access.

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Shabani is a member of Diversify Photo and Native Agency, two international collectives that champion underrepresented voices in visual storytelling.