On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the abolition of the basic right to asylum
Against the racist normality
The fundamental right to seek asylum, the protection from persecution, is a consequence of the catastrophic handling of fleeing individuals during the Second World War. The United Nations came up with the Geneva Refugee Convention in 1950. Up until then, no refuge from the German Nazis existed for Jews, those part of the opposition or those in exile. Their reception depended on political will, reception quotas, luck and their wallets. However, still today, the borders are far from open for those seeking asylum. After refugee centres were burned down in Germany at the beginning of the 1990s and the public debate about migration and causes for seeking refuge took place (in a racist manner), the German Federal Parliament and Council decided to abolish the basic right to asylum in May of 1993. With this so-called Asylum Compromise („Asylkompromiss“) – the restriction of Article 16 of the German Basic Law – the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act was instated and served as a tool to deter individuals from seeking asylum in Germany. The outcome of this was that only non-cash allowances/benefits were supplied, housing in camps and a lower living wage for asylum seekers were instated.
Those individuals seeking asylum in Germany and still in the asylum application process are not allowed to decide for themselves where they want to live and are divided between the German Bundesländer according to the respective population and internal revenue of the Bundesland. Not much has changed since the Asylum Compromise for those seeking asylum in Thuringia. The vast majority must live in communal living spaces, freedom of movement and medical care are restricted, political activism is almost made impossible, the right to work is forbidden and records of racist and disrespectful treatment on the part of authorities of the State of Thuringia are widespread. Despite this, the resistence against these conditions remain unbroken. Again and again, asylum seekers and their supporters fight for a life without fear of deportation, intimidation and controls. Isolated camps in the province of Thuringia were closed as a result of pressure and scandalous incidents were made public. With these action days against racism, we aim to discuss these issues, analyse them and take action together with those interested in order to show what necessary changes of this current situation need to be made and in order to find approaches for solving these issues.
All further information can be found at www.rassismus-toetet.de
12.05.2013, 4 PM, Louisen Park, Winzerstrasse Ecke Wachsenburgweg, 99094 Erfurt
Reading of „Kaltland“
„Kaltland“ was published 20 years after the racist attacks that took place in Rostock-Lichtenhagen and Hoyerswerda. The volume „Kaltland“deals with the arson attacks through autobiographical anecdotes in original voices of prominent authors and arists.
12.05.2013, 7 PM, [L50], Lassallestr.50, 99086 Erfurt
Documentary from Philip Scheffner(BRD 2012, OmU, Dok, 106 min)
A documentary turns into a cinematic review. The movie reconstructs the circumstances that lead to the death of two men in a field near the German-Polish border. With an increasing concentration of oppression, Scheffner weaves a web of landscape and memory, witness statements, documents and investigations.
13.05.2013, 6 PM, Hilgenfeld Uni Erfurt, Nordhäuser Straße 63, 99089 Erfurt
Facets of everyday racism in the media
Talk about the reproduction of racist stereotypes in the Media
Şirin Manolya Sak (Neue deutsche Medienmacher) and Dr. Liriam Sponholz
14.05.2013, 7 PM, [L50], Lassallestr.50, 99086 Erfurt
"Gypsy-Boy" - sing for me! - Antiziganism is a particular type of discrimination - "With the glow of their fire the rest of the adventure died". This is how it is sung in a 90s pop-song about "Gypsies". So what? - one might ask - What´s wrong with this?
Talking about Sinti and Roma and other groups, whom the majority still labels as "Gypsies", portrays an act of “othering”.
On one hand, such phrases produce Clichés, how "we" would like to see “others” - music, rhythm, and sexist romanticism. It also proves a lack of knowledge and sensitivity: approximately 500,000 Sinti and Roma were killed in Nazi Germany in concentration camps. In this context, talking about "glow", "fire" and "adventure" seems like a very bizarre thing to do.
In this workshop we want to talk about and deconstruct clichés. Besides looking at the history of Sinti and Roma and relating it to their current situation, an analysis using movies, photographs and texts, the focus will lie on the thought exchange of the workshop members.
15.05.2013, 17:00, Radio F.R.E.I., Gotthardtstraße 21, 99084 Erfurt
Discrimination by authorities
Migrants and refugees will talk about their experiences of discrimination through governmental institutions. Migrants and refugees still face racially motivated discrimination in our society today.
This discrimination shows itself through administrative authorities dealing with migrants and refugees. This rarely discussed type of discrimination not only results in everyday problems, but also brings about traumatising experiences for migrants and refugees. Several of those living in Thuringia will report their experiences with administrative authorities, schools, police departments, registration offices, etc.
16.05.2013, 4 PM, Anger, 99084 Erfurt
Demonstration, on the day of the 20th anniversary of the abolishing of the basic right to asylum
16.05.2013, 8 PM, Offene Arbeit, Hinterhaus/ Allerheiligenstr.9, 99084 Erfurt
The refugee compromise 93 was signed by the ruling parties - CDU, FDP and SPD - during racist and arson attacks as well as pogroms against refugees and migrants.
For refugees and supporting organisations, this act meant the factual abolishment of the right to seek asylum. The workshop will give a historical overview of the developments of refugee and asylum seekers’ rights and laws since the 90s.
Speaker: Steffen Dittes
17.05.2013, 9 PM, Bahnhofvorplatz Erfurt (hoffentlich ohne rassistische Polizeikontrollen)
Welcome in Erfurt? A short film exhibition on refugee politics. Erfurt is praised as a city of diversity, but how does the life of a refugee, who lives in the Thuringian capital, look like?
The movie exhibition portrays their paths and the racist challenges refugees are confronted with.