Break the silence!
Come to Dessau on April 19 th-20th,
May 8th-11th and 24th, June 12th-15
th and 18 th -22 nd 2007,
Observe the trial and participate in the permanent vigils,
events and rallies during this time
On the 7th of January, 2005, Oury Jalloh agonizingly
burned to death---tied at his hands and feet in Cell Number 5 in Dessau. He was
a 21 year-old refugee from Sierra Leone. The smoke and fire alarm were simply ignored
by the supervising police officer; the communication system connected directly
to the cell was turned off, supposedly because the police officers felt
bothered by the "burbling noises" while they were talking on the
telephone. Since his death to this day, the State Prosecutor, responsible for
carrying out the investigations, has exclusively promoted the theory that Oury
Jalloh committed suicide.
Nevertheless, there are simply too many contradictions
in their theory: Why does a lighter first appear in a second inventory taken of
the items found in the cell? How did a lighter enter into the cell when two
police officers carried out a body search of Oury Jalloh? How do they explain
the broken nasal bone and the injuries to the middle ear as found in the second
autopsy organized by the Initiative in Memory of Oury Jalloh? What role did the
racist attitude of Dessau's police play, which was recorded on tape before and
during the fire and made partially public?
On the basis of the ascertainable facts regarding the
death of Oury Jalloh and until it is proved otherwise we will continue to
believe and make our opinion known: Oury Jalloh was murdered.
That all of these contradictions have even been made
known to a wider public has only been possible thanks to the mobilization and
engagement of friends and acquaintances of Oury Jalloh as well as diverse
migrant, refugee and anti-racist organizations, who in spite of the attempts at
criminalization and the persecution of several activists have never given up in
fighting for an exhaustive clarification of the circumstances surrounding the
death of Oury Jalloh as well as justice and reparations. All of these groups
have come together to form the Initiative in Memory of Oury Jalloh.
Finally, after two years of mobilization and public
campaigning of the Initiative, court proceedings are to be held in March
against two of the police involved in the crime. Although we find this to be an
important step in the direction of shedding light on the death of Oury Jalloh,
we have serious doubt as to whether the proceedings will bring either justice
or an exhaustive clarification of the circumstances.
Since Oury's murder, neither the court nor the State
Prosecutor has shown interest in discovering the truth behind the events in
Dessau. Rather, the case has been plagued by two years of impediments, cover-up
and the denial to cooperate with the lawyers of Oury's parents. Only for the
recognition of the mother and father as co-plaintiffs in the case did the court
need 17 and 15 months to come to a decision, respectively. In addition, the
State Prosecutor refused to allow an x-ray of Oury Jalloh's corpse to be
carried out with the justification that it simply wasn't necessary. The second
autopsy, carried out independently in the name of the Initiative in Memory of
Oury Jalloh, demonstrated then demonstrated the serious injuries to Oury's nose
and middle ear.
But Oury Jalloh was not alone. Dominique Koumadio, for
example, was shot and killed by the police on the 14th of April, 2006. The General
Public Prosecutor has already absolved the police of any crime. The
justification? Self-defense. Indeed, crimes by the police enjoy almost complete
impunity, especially when those crimes are committed against refugees and
migrants. Indeed, German police abuse refugees and migrants on a daily basis,
and physical mistreatment is widespread, though punishment is seldom—if it even
comes that far. In general, it is fair to say that the police, just as society,
is dominated by a racist, inhumane consensus that sees refugees and migrants in
general as sub-humans.
In general, Europe has made it known and enforced the
fact that refugees and migrants, but especially Blacks, are not welcome here.
Alone in 2006 more than 7,000 HUMAN BEINGS were forced into their death by a
system which has systematically and eternally robbed them of their most basic
right: the right to life. Who will pay the price for these murders? Who can
give their families and friends back their loved ones?
These are just some of the reasons why we totally
distrust the German legal system.
It is our responsibility to Oury, his family and all
victims and survivors of racist police violence and even murder to come
together and demonstrate to the court, to the society and to the world that we
will not stand silently by while they continue their crimes in impunity. If we
do not come together to stop this now, how many will follow? Who will be next?
A wide public and political mobilization to accompany
the trial and assist the proceedings as independent observers is of extreme
importance. We therefore call on all progressive sectors and people of
solidarity to join us in Dessau for the entire length of the court proceedings.
Vigils, events and rallies will be organized during the whole duration of the
events.
Come to Dessau! Observe the trial and participate in
the permanent vigils, events and rallies during this time.
The Court address: Landgericht Dessau,
Willy-Lohmann-Str. 29, 06844 Dessau
Stay informed at: http://oury-jalloh.so36.net - http://thevoiceforum.org/
Info-phone at: 0176-65977644
Donations can be
made to: Antirassistische Initiative / Bank für Sozialwirtschaft / Konto-Nr.:
3039600 / BLZ: 100 205 00 / Stichwort: Dessau.
COME TO DESSAU!
BREAK THE SILENCE!