* this story is fictional, drawing inspiration from the real experiences of the boys in Kottbusser Tor. But for their safety, I share these fictional narratives instead of actual events.
Have you ever seen a group of 15+ police officers in riot gear slowly making their way through Kotti, parading a young Arab man in handcuffs? Let me share the truth behind this image.
You are 21 years old and arrive at Kotti from your home country in North Africa half a year ago, with no money, no papers, and no contacts. Here, you find the only community you can belong to, consisting of other vulnerable North African youth your age, all of whom have traveled similar horrific migrant routes. Like them, you survived dangerous journeys, including a boat ride that, by some miracle, didn’t capsize—or perhaps it did, and you were among the few survivors. You navigated through the infamous Balkan forests, where human traffickers lurk in every corner.
Germany was your dream destination, the last stop on a long list of countries you visited, where you were constantly hunted down and criminalized. Since arriving in Berlin, you have faced a bleak reality with very few opportunities to earn money, often resorting to selling drugs while being constantly on the run. You endure daily discrimination, face attacks from other criminals on the streets, sleep in the cold, and struggle to find places to shower, eat, and connect to the internet to reach your family. Despite these hardships, you still want to stay, hoping to get closer to the better life you believe Germany can offer. Yet, the constant threat of violent police arrests and the fear of deportation looms large.
Living under such harsh conditions day after day, you, like most of your friends, start taking drugs, beginning with some seemingly harmless pills that you and your friends sell on the streets. Unaware of its addictive and destructive nature, the pills give you a temporary escape from the anxiety and the stress that frequently overwhelms you.
Despite your difficult circumstances, young age, and limited education, you deeply believe that Palestine should be free. However, many Palestinians and Arabs in Berlin want to see you and your friends locked up in cages—criminalizing you, just as white Germans discriminate against Arabs and migrants. While this hurts you deeply, you never stop believing that Palestine should be free.
Palestine-solidarity stickers cover your phone. But after being arrested, beaten, and locked up in a location unknown to you, you will probably never see this phone again, nor will you retrieve any of the contacts and phone numbers saved on it. Because you don’t have papers, you will be kept in pre-trial detention until a court passes your verdict. Due to slow German bureaucracy, this could be a long wait—possibly in solitary confinement, or worse, in a prison filled with right-wing German inmates.
***
It is important that we—Arabs, migrants, pro-Palestine advocates—stand in solidarity with people in these circumstances. Here’s how you can start today:
- Keep your camera ready at Kotti to film police arrests.
- Thematize actions about Kotti Wache.
- Donate to Kotti Cares.
- Challenge racist comments about North Africans.
- Spread the word.
- Show them kindness and keep them in your thoughts.
For more information, pitching ideas, or giving feedback, contact kotticares10999@proton.me.
