Today I witnessed three things: A refugee from Gambia a brutal brawl and police aggression. At 9 o’clock I met this man, named Lamin from Gambia before a petrol station near the pickup office for refugees (it is called LEA) and we had a little chat. Lamin told me that out of difficulties with his father and no option to find any work. You may remember what Mnebni from Kosovo so: “No work, no money, no food.” So Lamin came here to us and he misses his mother very badly. Lamin had this warmth that I could sense. He was desperate, yes. But also full of hope. And love for his mother. We talked about 5 or 10 minutes and Lamin agreed that I could take some photographs. ~ Suddenly, while we were talking a group of about 20 refugees ran to the petrol station you can see in the background. Two of three man chasing the others had big, white clubs in their hands hammering down the others. I was quite shocked, but Lamin stayed very cool. I didn’t know what to do, because the mob soon disappeared. We ended our conversation, as at least 5 police cars drove by to chase the attackers and 3 stopped at the petrol station. I wished Lamin the very best and he went on. I packed my camera in my bag. ~ But as I started to walk back to the car, 30 meters away I saw 3 policemen around a refugee and one of the officers yelled at him, while gripping the boy very hard at his jacket and shaking him hard, too. I thought I was dreaming. This could not be true. I had to look twice to get that it was Lamin they had. Three police officers around the boy I just talked to. And they were in a bad, aggressive state of mind, I could see that. I went there as fast as I could and told the policemen that I was with Lamin and that we both witnessed the brawl and that he didn’t have anything to do with it. The officer asked who I was and why I was there in a very unfriendly tone. In the meantime, they had let go of him. At least. ~ So I went to another officer and told him that I was a witness and that I could identify the attackers. And that I was confused about how Lamin was treated. This officer noted my information (+ my address and stuff). He said that maybe the aggressive police officer acted out of self-protection. I managed to talk to Lamin in the meantime. He was confused. I asked him, if he’d be okay. Lamin didn’t have his (three) papers anymore. The police had confiscated them. I saw those papers earlier and they were everything he had. With his picture, name and status on them. With addresses where he had to go. So I asked other police officers (at that time there were at least 10 of them at the petrol station), if Lamin could get his papers back and why he was treated in such a bad manner. One of them said that Lemin refused to show is ID card. Of course! Lamin has no ID card! He is a refugee! Adding to that: Lamin doesn’t speak German and understands English only a little bit. The officer continued that “this was a misunderstanding, but not our problem”. So this is his problem? I asked, pointing toward Lamin. The police officer was getting a bit angry. I asked if someone could apologize to Lamin. The only thing what I heard was again: “This is not our problem”. ~ I went to Lamin, asking if he was okay. He was not. He had tears rolling down his cheeks. I looked him in the eyes and said that I was sorry, that I should have protected him and that there was a misunderstanding with the police. And that he surely would get his papers back. He nodded, but his eyes were filled with tears. Short after that a police officer came back with the papers. Lamin was still confused about what happened. Lamin had to go the pickup office and I wished him the best for his life. I still feel sorry for what happened. Lamin, even now, Welcome to Germany. May you be safe and never, ever be treated like this again. May you find people that can protect you and help you grow into the man you want to be.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 11:34:01 +0000
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