Please send Protest letter for the release of Felix Otto from the Prison in JVA Suhl
Sender:
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To:
The Interior Minister of Thuringen
Mr. Manfred Scherer
Steiger Strasse 24, 99096 Erfurt
Telephone: 0361 – 37900, Fax: 0361 – 3793111
Copy to:
The Court of Lobenstein /The Court of Possneck
Muehlgasse 19c, 07356 Lobenstein
Telephone: 036651 – 6100, Fax: 036651 - 61010
Dear Sir and Madam,
My attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Felix Otto, a refugee from Cameroun who has lived in Thuringen for several years. Since 30th March this year he has been in prison at Suhl-Goldlauter where he is expected to serve eight months for violating the so-called Residence Obligation Law for refugees. This hash penalty, which is by far the longest prison sentence for any such offence since 1982 when the law was enacted only serve to heighten the absurdity and inhumanity of this law. As you very well know, the crime he committed is a crime that can only be committed by refugees in Germany as there is no other country in the whole of Europe where there is such a blanket restriction of movement on every refugee.
Hailing from the former German Democratic Republic, I have no doubt that you recognise and appreciate the importance of the natural, inalienable and individual right to freedom of movement. It is a major part of human dignity which is protected by the German constitution, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Felix Otto is in prison not for any other crime but for exercising that natural right.
Permit me to draw your attention and recollection to a certain date in history. On 22nd August 1938, the National Socialists through the Foreigners’ Police Order placed a very similar restriction of movement on foreigners in Germany. The consequence of a violation then like now was both a monetary fine and a possible one year jail term. Judging from the similarities in language, fine and consequences of the 1938 restriction and the Residence Obligation Law, it can hardly be doubted that the restriction placed on refugees today in Germany has not simply been paraphrased from the racist law enacted by the dreaded Nazi regime. It is unbelievable but true and it is disturbing and chilling.
There can be no justification for refugees in Germany today to suffer a similar but the globally condemned humiliation and inhumanity that was visited upon foreigners under the Nazi regime. I therefore call on you as the state official with the authority to release Mr. Felix Otto from prison, to do so immediately and let him regain his freedom. Further, you should suspend any further application of this restriction while setting in motion, processes to repeal the law, for it is time to abolish it and any other relics of the National Socialists.
Signature and Date
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Please send your Fax copies also to The VOICE Refugee Forum Jena, Schillergässchen 5, 07745 Jena, Germany,
phone:++49 (0) 176 24 56 8988, Fax: ++49 (0) 3641 - 420
270, e-mail: thevoiceforum@emdash.org, www.thevoiceforum.org,
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More information and links:
Residenzpflicht appeal - The Fight against the Residence Obligation Law in Germany