They raise their voices | politics

• fromGregor Hashnik

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Relatives of the victims campaign intensively for memory and against racism, for example in the Ferhat Unvar educational initiative and in politics.

Why was my child killed? ”Every day Serpil Temiz Unvar asks himself this question and feels this pain that cannot be put into words. At the same time she remembers the words her son wrote in a poem: “We are only dead when we are forgotten.” And her promise: “Our children must not have died in vain.” This is another reason why Ferhat’s mother , who was murdered on February 19 for racist motives, launched an initiative for anti-racist education and empowerment named after the 22-year-old. When Serpil Temiz Unvar presented the project this week, she had tears in her eyes. And said: “I will fight to my last breath”, for Ferhat and for “a respectful approach” and a “life in safety”.

Hanau should be the end and not a stopover before the next racist murders. This requires change in many ways – and the relatives of the victims are fighting for it in a new, intense way. Again and again they raise their voices in public, talk about their experiences, point out grievances and failures, call for solidarity, and look for supporters with the “February 19 Initiative”. For remembrance, education, consequences and an open society of the different, without hatred.

In order to promote all of this, they speak to politicians, among others: they hold them accountable. But they also want to make concrete changes to education and politics themselves: Serpil Temiz Unvar with her education initiative, Abdullah Unvar, Ferhat’s cousin, with his involvement in federal and local politics. He applied as a candidate of the SPD for the Bundestag constituency 180, to which Hanau belongs, and is on the party’s lists for the Kesselstadt local advisory council and the city parliament. Saida Hashemi would also like to contribute to this. Her brother Said Nesar was murdered in the attack; her brother Said Etris survived seriously injured. Hashemi stands for the SPD, with a focus on education and integration policy.

Serpil Temiz Unvar recalls that Ferhat was a boy with many different interests and talent. Nevertheless, he had difficulties in school and had bitter experiences with racial discrimination. He had often heard one sentence from teachers: “You will never achieve anything.” A sentence that Ferhat ultimately refuted; He graduated from school with good grades, completed his training and wanted to study. The road to get there was rocky: “I was often worried,” says Temiz Unvar. “A lot of mothers are like me: they don’t know how to strengthen and protect their children.” That is why the education initiative is also a point of contact for mothers. In addition to exchange and advice, there are other building blocks: For example, the initiative has already conducted a survey on racism in 13 schools and will be offering workshops, including for teachers, to raise their awareness. The aim is to provide information, to create spaces for discussion, to promote peaceful coexistence and equal opportunities. The aim is to train young people to become experts who actively campaign against racism in everyday life and in institutions. After Serpil Temiz Unvar had announced her plan, she quickly found partners, such as the Anne Frank educational institution in Frankfurt, as well as experts in political education and friends of Ferhat. Many schools are interested, especially the Hanauer Eugen Kaiser School, where the kick-off event took place.

The ubiquitous racism in school is not innate, it arises in society, according to Temiz Unvar: “We have come a long way to be able to say: Ferhat, it was worth it.”

Abdullah Unvar is also involved in the initiative, about which he says: “Serpil, with your experience, is the key.” In addition, the 33-year-old has introduced himself to numerous local SPD associations and promoted himself over the past few months. In the election of the direct candidates for the federal election, which will take place after the local elections, the father of the family, who works as an architect for the state of Hesse, wants to prevail over his two competitors. Katja Leikert (CDU) last won the constituency.

Unvar comes from a working-class family, his parents and other relatives were “Social Democrats through and through” and aroused Unvar’s interest by enthusiastically telling him about Willy Brandt’s speeches. After an interim move, Abdullah Unvar, who grew up in Hanau-Kesselstadt, became involved in the Butzbach SPD in the Wetterau district, for example as a secretary.

His decision to become even more politically active comes after February 19, 2020 and a long period of paralysis. “February 19th turned our lives upside down,” says Unvar, whose family was one of the first so-called guest workers. The right-wing extremist assassin drove his car on roads that Ferhat’s grandfather had built.

Abdullah Unvar begins to see the causes and consequences of the attack as a political mandate. Decides to stand up for a decisive “fight against racism and fascism” at this level, in “solidarity with extra-parliamentary movements”. In addition, Unvar wants to be a link that counteracts the growing division. “I come from the middle of society, I can be a contact person and listener for everyone, regardless of their origin.” His candidacy should be a signal and encourage others to go into politics as well. Unvar counts social imbalances among the greatest dangers that could exacerbate exclusion and fear. Therefore, topics such as the promotion of affordable housing, better working conditions, more equal opportunities and support for families, especially in times of the pandemic, are high on his agenda. Above all, he wants to listen in order to gain trust – and prevent “society from falling apart,” says Unvar.

Editorial page 11

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