HAMBURG FOUNDATION for Politically Persecuted People NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2016
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HAMBURG FOUNDATION for Politically Persecuted People NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2016 Editorial Humayra Bakhtiyar Journalist from Tajikistan When the interview partner from the previous day is killed in broad daylight, there is no room left for naivety. Then the journalist knows that from now on she also has to fear for her life. Since March 2015, Humayra the regime has been persecuting How time flies. Bakhtiyar (30) had to live with this not only opposition members by fear. In her interview, the oppo- labeling them Islamists but has also Almost to the day 30 years ago, the sition politician Umarali Kuwatow, been increasingly targeting inde- retired First Mayor Dr. Klaus von who was living in exile in Istanbul, pendent journalists. Any criticism of Dohnanyi petitioned in the Hamburg had fiercely criticized Tajikistan’s the head of state Emomanii Rahmon city parliament for the establishment long-time head of state Emommali and his actions is severely punished, of an independent Hamburg founda- Rahmon and his clique. The follow- with Russia and China openly sup- tion for politically persecuted peop- ing day he was dead. porting this policy. Cautious criti- le. To this day, we invite up to five carefully selected guests every year: From this day onwards, courageous campaigners for demo- the prize-winning cracy and human rights, who after reporter Bakhtiyar the one-year fellowship are supposed once again felt perse- to act as multipliers of the notion of cuted. She knew about freedom in their home countries. Be- her phone and emails cause no one flees from a country, being monitored once where poverty is being fought and law and order prevail. again. The open threats could not be overheard. However, without your support we Once again. For years, would never have made it this far. Humayra Bakhtiyar had Verfolgte pol. ©HH Stiftung f. Together with Hamburg’s senate and Martina Bäurle and Humayra Bakhtiyar been a thorn in the side city parliament, you make up the so- of the Tajik regime. But despite all lid bedrock of our foundation. Two warnings, the young woman had cism at best comes from the EU and exceptional young women have been continued to report on torture prac- the USA: Tajikistan is considered an rescued onto this safe ground. The tices and other human rights vio- important stronghold against the journalist Inès Gakiza had to leave lations by the Central Asian state’s expansion of al Qaeda and the so- her home Burundi because she wro- police and secret service. With her called Islamic State in this region. te against the constitution-breaking coverage on the “controlled” presi- third term of president Pierre Nku- dential elections in 2013 as well as With the Kuwatow interview, runziza. And due to her reports on on the topic „radicalism and extre- Humayra Bakhtiyar finally exceeded torture and other human rights viola- mism“, she garnered international the regime’s patience. Since then, tions, the journalist Humayra Bakhti- attention. Three times, she has been she has been at the very top of the yar had to flee Tajikistan. awarded a prize for her work by the list of “journalist enemies” of the renowned „Institute for War and president. We are very happy to know that both Peace Reporting“. are now safe and sound in Hamburg. Somehow by venturing on rounda- The authorities had just recently bout routes, it was possible to bring Sincerely yours, lost interest in Humayra Bakhtiyar, the young woman from Tajikistan to Martina Bäurle when the interview with Kuwatow Hamburg. took place. Given the currently aggravated inner-political situation, Inès Gakiza, radio journalist from Burundi News which had cost 250,000 people’s Inès Gakiza receives the Johann- lives, Nkurunziza had stepped up Philipp-Palm Prize 2016 carrying the hopes towards recon- At the start of December in ciliation of the rival ethnic groups in Schorndorf, the young journalist 2005. In March 2015, however, he let will be honored for her efforts with himself be elected for a third term in the Johann-Philipp-Palm Prize for violation of the current constitution. Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Press. In 1806, the bookseller Palm Since then, Burundi has been at the was sentenced to death for distribu- brink of another civil war. ting an anti-Napoleonic pamphlet. ©??? Thousands of people have been © HH Stiftung f. pol. Verfolgte pol. © HH Stiftung f. taken by the president’s supporters, vanishing without a trace. Critics First impressions are deceptive: Inès of the regime including journalists Gakiza is not at all the quiet and only have two options left: either to shy woman she might easily seem keep silent or leave the country. to be at first sight. On the contrary. Success for Asif Mohiuddin The confidence-inspiring interaction Inès Gakiza chose the latter path The blogger from Bangladesh, who with others is the trademark of the after government goon squads had tops the Islamists’ death list, has star- 30-year old radio journalist from vandalized the editorial offices of ted to work as an IT expert at a large Burundi. Given the highly explosive the opposition channel “African research facility: “Finally I can live off state her home country is in, without Public Radio (APR)“. Together with my work again.” this trait she probably wouldn’t have other colleagues in exile, she has managed to create a large network already founded a new Internet of informants, which to this day radio station. She considers it her keeps her up to date about the dea- duty, the committed journalist sta- 30 years and a red bicycle lings of president Pierre Nkurunziza ted upon her arrival in Hamburg, “During my childhood in the USSR, and his clique. that her compatriots continue to I persistently tried to make a bicyc- receive information not spread by le out of old parts and paint it in my Following the end of the civil war, government sources. favorite color red. It would always © Herlinda Martínez break down again immediately. Until at 12 years, I finally stopped dreaming of a real bike. 41 years later, however, a red bike in Ham- burg found me. Like me, hundreds of people have been able to spend one year of their lives in the EU, in Germany, thanks to the Hamburg Foundation for Politically Persecu- ted People. Like me, they were able to reclaim their peaceful dreams, recover bit by bit and heal the heal- able. Here, I can rebuild my inner equilibrium. Here, I have redisco- vered my youthful passion, without which I would not be able to fight against the Armenian-Azerbaijan and my personal war. Thank you for everything, © HH Stiftung f. pol. Verfolgte pol. © HH Stiftung f. Your Georgi Vanyan“ Sponsors Donation Account Imprint Chairman: Olaf Scholz, Erster Bürgermeister The Hamburg Foundation for Hamburger Sparkasse: der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg BIC: HASPDEHHXXX Politically Persecuted People would Honory Chairman: Dr. Klaus von Dohnanyi like to thank the sponsors. IBAN: DE 5320 0505 5010 2225 0359 Executive Director: Ole von Beust Hamburger Stiftung für politisch Verfolgte Board of Directors: Dr. Doris André, Prof. Dr. Osterbekstr. 96, 22083 Hamburg Ulrich Karpen, Elisabeth Lingner, Dr. Christel Fon: 0049/40/42863 5757 Oldenburg, Dr. Hariolf Wenzler [email protected] www.Hamburger-Stiftung.de Managing Director: Martina Bäurle Idee: www.ulrike-willenbrink.de, Gestaltung: www.kameko.de.