The trial starts on 23.09.2019 at 9:30 at the Kriminalgericht Moabit, Turmstraße 91, Room 1/537, 10559 Berlin
Dear press, we ask you to announce this trial date and to monitor the case and report on it!
On March 29, 2019 our friend Maria, her husband and her brother-in-law were travelling in a Berlin subway when they were attacked by a white German woman with a knife. All three were injured, some of them were in a life-threatening condition, and are still suffering from the physical and
psychological consequences of the racist attack.
On Monday, September 23, the trial against the perpetrator begins at the Moabit Criminal Court. Although they are very afraid of subsequent attacks, Maria and her family will appear alongside the state on the prosecuting side and will be questioned as witnesses. Because the woman used anti- Roma racist language during the assault, we assume that the crime was racially motivated. This opinion is shared by numerous Roma associations and supporters.
We want this case to be public! Romni (Roma women) rarely take perpetrators of violence against them to court. Maria decided to take this step because the course of events was documented on numerous video recordings and cannot be denied. Nevertheless, there is a great risk that the racist motive of the perpetrator will not be recognised as such by the judges and the assailant will be portrayed as a “mentally disturbed individual”.
Racist crimes against Roma are rarely reported in the press. To date, in the media covering the case, neither the motive for the crime nor the fact that the vicitms were Roma are mentioned.
It is important that many people come to the trial on the 23rd.
Let us show solidarity, let us show Maria that she is not alone.
Racism against Roma must be made visible.
Start of trial: 23.09. 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
Kriminalgericht Moabit, Turmstrasse 91, Room 1/537, 10559 Berlin
Further trial dates: 26.09., 14.10., 21.10.,28.10., 4.11. always 9:30 a.m. at the same place
With kind regards
International Women Space, Roma Antidiscrimination Network
Contact: iwspace@iwspace.de ( International Women Space)
0152 33715604 (Roma Antidiscrimination Network)
