Arson attack and solidarity: Meißen fights against xenophobia!

Arson attack and solidarity: Meißen fights against xenophobia!

On Tuesday morning, around 40 allies gathered on Hirschbergstrasse in Meißen to express their solidarity with the “Buntes Meißen” association. The occasion was a devastating arson attack in the former Walther nursery, where green waste went up in flames on the night from Sunday to Monday. At the same time, some xenophobic graffiti was discovered. The fire department was able to quickly extinguish the fire, but fortunately there were no injuries. Maria Fagerlund, one of the association's board members, organized the solidarity campaign at short notice to take a stand against racism and intolerance. Migrants from different countries work in this nursery, growing vegetables and growing young plants. People with disabilities from meeting places also work in this area, which makes the community there particularly valuable.

“The Basic Law applies to every person,” Fagerlund clarified, while a banner with Article 1 of the Basic Law was attached to the fence next to the fire site. The “Buntes Meißen” association has been exposed to increasing hostility for years, mainly from the AfD, whose influence is increasing in the region. Fagerlund described it as irresponsible to carry out an arson attack near a large fire and warned of the dangerous developments in society.

Background of the attacks

The police have already identified a 43-year-old suspect who is said to be responsible for the xenophobic graffiti. Whether he also started the fire is still under investigation. It is frightening how frequently such attacks have increased in recent years, which indicates a worrying social development. Tolerance towards foreign cultures seems to be dwindling, which can be observed not only in Meißen but nationwide.

An example of the current threat to human rights in Europe is the serious problems in refugee policy. In Greece, the Iranian Homayoun Sabetara, who is suffering from cancer, is on trial because he is accused of smuggling. The 60-year-old has been in prison for three years after trying to reach his daughters in Germany. The allegations against him show how stumbling blocks arise for oneself and others when migrants and their helpers are criminalized. These developments also run through many EU countries, as the cases in Italy and Spain highlighted by the “taz” show, where people are put in prison for “aiding and abetting illegal entry,” often without knowing exactly what they are being accused of.

Fight against the criminalization of escape

A tragic facet of this issue is the financial and emotional burden on families, who often rely on NGO support to obtain legal representation. The NGO medico international has launched a new “Freedom of Movement Fund” to help such families. At the same time, 15 organizations, including Amnesty International, are calling for a revision of the EU directive on facilitating illegal entry in order to counteract the increasing criminalization of people seeking protection. The AWO Federal Association and many others are committed to ensuring that essential human rights principles are not jeopardized.

The appeal is directed at the federal government to create clear definitions that comprehensively exclude humanitarian aid and finally end the criminalization of those seeking protection. Change is needed so that the principle of humanity and solidarity does not fall victim to the current politically motivated attacks on the most vulnerable.

In this tense situation, it is more important than ever to stand up for values ​​such as respect and tolerance and to give a voice to those who need help. In Meißen, the solidarity campaign by the “Buntes Meißen” association shows that there are many who stand up against racism and discrimination.