No, it’s not a picture from the Orient, not a photo montage or an early April Fool’s joke: in Düsseldorf, on Ellerstraße, there is now a street sign in Arabic for the first time in Germany! It is no wonder that Ellerstrasse in Oberbilk is also marked in Arabic. Many people with Moroccan roots live in and around the street, there are several Arabic restaurants, markets and hairdressers.
The Green politician Samy Charchira, councilor for Oberbilk, speaks of a symbolic expression of social inclusion. The Arabic street sign shows that people identify with their district and its diversity. The more people do that, the more social responsibility they can take on.
Düsseldorf: Street name in Arabic for the first time in Germany
The model for the “Arabic” Ellerstraße is Immermannstraße in “Little Tokyo”, which received an additional street sign in Japanese characters in 2021. Aiman Mazyek (54), Chairman of the Central Council of Muslims, praised the new Arabic sign on Twitter, writing: “First street sign in Germany in Arabic; multilingual (as is common practice in many countries around the world); Düsseldorf shows diversity and shows respect for immigrant Germans.”
But praise, approval or understanding does not come from all sides. AfD federal board member Carlo Clemens (34) from Bergisch-Gladbach writes: “Arabic street signs for ‘immigrant Germans’. If you don’t have to understand it, it doesn’t make any sense.” His party colleague and member of the Bundestag (43) adds: “Shouldn’t ‘immigrant Germans’ be able to read German street signs?”
Psychology Ahmad Mansour: “Fears must be addressed”
Psychologist and Federal Cross of Merit winner Ahmad Mansour (46) warns on Twitter: “Labeling a street sign in Düsseldorf in Arabic in addition to German is meant nicely, but the reactions to it are symptomatic of the deep-rooted fears and insecurities of a group, which is thus the downfall see. It is precisely these fears that need to be addressed.”
More news:
Incidentally, another additional sign for a Düsseldorf street is already planned: In Gerresheim, Glashüttenstraße is also to be provided in Italian. Then “Via della Vetreria” should be on it.
