Two years ago, a racist assassin shot dead nine people in Hanau. Federal Interior Minister Faeser, an imam and other speakers called for the fight against racism at the central hour of commemoration. Relatives also criticized the country.
Exactly two years after the racist attack that left nine people dead in Hanau, the bereaved and invited guests commemorated the victims at a central commemoration on Saturday afternoon at Hanau’s main cemetery.
“They say that time heals all wounds – but that’s not true,” said Hanau Mayor Claus Kaminsky (SPD) at the beginning of the memorial event on Saturday morning. The terror night of February 19, 2020 is a wound that will never completely go away. You will always hurt, especially the relatives and friends.
“We want and will remember and commemorate the victims permanently,” emphasized Kaminsky. This also includes commitment against racism and discrimination. “That’s what we owe the victims above all.” Those who sow hatred and discord exclude themselves.
Imam calls for enlightenment
Hanau imam Macit Bozkurt appealed to politicians: “Our hope is that politicians and authorities will become aware of their responsibility for providing complete information in order to regain the trust that has been lost.”
The gravestones of the victims are “a memorial” to remind where racism can lead. Despite the sadness, there is hope that diversity in society will be seen as an enrichment.
Criticism from the relatives of the lack of information
Hesse’s Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (CDU) emphasized that the task was not to forget the victims. “We have to show that these weren’t anonymous victims, they were people. People with their names and their own stories, with their hopes, worries and joys.”
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) acknowledged mistakes and omissions on the part of the state: “We cannot alleviate the immeasurable suffering of the relatives,” said Faeser. In fact, however, the obligation to provide complete clarification has not yet been fulfilled. “There are still many unanswered questions. These must now be clarified in the investigative committee of the Hessian state parliament.”
The state of Hesse was criticized by some of the victims’ relatives for exactly this in their speeches – too many circumstances of the crime have not yet been properly clarified. There are also too many bureaucratic hurdles that stand in the way of compensation payments.
Limiting the number of mourners to 100 people was an issue for relatives who would have liked more of their supporters at the memorial event. Emiş Gürbüz, Sedat Gürbüz’s mother, found a clear word: “I’m stunned that our wishes on this special day were ignored – the state of Hesse received our hour of commemoration.”
Racist act triggered nationwide horror
A 43-year-old German murdered nine people for racist motives in Hanau on February 19, 2020. The mentally ill right-wing extremist then killed his mother and took his own life. The act sparked nationwide outrage.
A parliamentary investigative committee of the Hessian state parliament is currently investigating the question of whether the authorities failed before, during or after the attack.
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Murdered in Hanau on February 19, 2020
1/9 |Kaloyan Velkov
Kaloyan Velkov came to Germany from Bulgaria in 2018. He worked in the Bar La Votre in downtown Hanau – also on the night of the crime. The father of one child was 33 years old.
Image © Illustration: Inga Reichert (hr)
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Actions all over Germany
Another commemorative event is to take place at 2:30 p.m. at the Heumarkt in Hanau. At 4 p.m. a demonstration against racism begins on the Hanau market square. At 5:30 p.m., the Paulskirche in Frankfurt will be illuminated with the names of the victims. There will also be a memorial event with light projection at the Wiesbaden town hall from 7 p.m. A rally with a vigil begins at 7 p.m. on Karolinenplatz in Darmstadt. From 9.30 p.m., silent commemorations with candles and flowers are planned on Kurt-Schumacher-Platz and Heumarkt in Hanau.
In other cities in Hesse and Germany, too, people want to remember the victims and stand up for political consequences. A large number of more than 100 commemorative campaigns are planned nationwide. There will also be events outside of Hesse, including in Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Stuttgart and Munich.
End of further information