Oury Jalloh: Demonstrations in Dessau and Berlin - court hearing in March

For two years now the murder of Oury Jalloh in a police cell in Dessau (East Germany) remains unpunished. Even today there has still not been any apologies made by the police or the responsible authorities. Likewise, no reparations have been made to the Jalloh family. Instead, an African friend of Oury, the person who has been most engaged in the struggle for truth and justice in this case, has :: suffered serious persecution. In addition, approximately ten activists of the campaign of the Initiative in Memory of Oury Jalloh have been accused of diverse "crimes."

For two years now diverse refugee, migrant and anti-racist groups have come together to break the silence and to demand truth, justice and reparations for the murder of Oury Jalloh.

On Saturday 6th of January 2007 an :: African Community Conference took place in Dessau under the title: Racist Police Killings and Criminalisation of Africans and Black in Germany. On this conference following demands of the Black Community in Germany were set:

1 We demand a speedy prosecution and sentencing of the police officers involved in the murder of Oury Jalloh and their removal from office.
2 We demand the resignation of the Dessau`s Chief of Police.
3 We demand the payment of reparations to the family of Oury Jalloh.
4 We demand the end of all police racist controls, brutality and killing of Blacks.
5 We demand justice and reparations for all victims of institutionalized racism, police and state violence against Blacks and for their families.

On Sunday 7th of January 2007 more than 200 People protested in Dessau in front of the police station where Oury was killed.

Parallel to the demonstration in Dessau there was a demonstration in Berlin taking place, too. More than 600 persons attended the demonstration there.

In spite of constant protest, public doubt as to the thesis that Oury Jalloh committed suicide and clear reasons to begin legal procedures, the threat is real that the unexplainable delays and obstructions by the District Court of Dessau will impede legal procedures from even beginning, thus obstructing any (possible) clarification as to how and why Oury Jalloh died. In the meantime, the court has refused to hold a hearing for one of the accused police officers, and in the case of the on-duty supervisor the judge has - once again; two years after the violent death! - ordered further pre-investigations.

If they have the right to speak of suicide, in spite of the fact that all facts lead to another conclusion, then we take it as our :: right to speak of murder.

Now the court in dessau has agreed :: to trial one of the police officers. Not with the charge of murder - but an opening up to investigate what realy happened is possible, now.

The court hearing will take place from 27th of March until 30th of March 2007 in Dessau.
Landgericht Dessau
Willy-Lohmann-Str. 29
06844 Dessau

Everybody is asked to :: attend the court hearing.

Sources :: stop-institutional-racism.blogspot.com :: thevoiceforum.org