Open Letter

from Mouctar Bah, friend of Oury Jalloh, to the General Federal Prosecutor, Minister of Justice and Interior Minister

On the occasion of the 17th anniversary of Oury Jalloh's death, Mouctar Bah, close friend of Jalloh and activist, demands a complete investigation by the new federal government. His commitment is tireless and indispensable. Without him and the activists of the Oury Jalloh Initiative, this case would certainly no longer be an issue today. Bah’s open letter, with which he appeals again, following a new expert opinion, has been signed by numerous, well-known individuals and organisations from academia, cultural organisations, media and civil society.

For more information, follow @initative_ouryjalloh

 Mouctar Ouldadah Bah
Friend of Oury Jalloh
Activist in the Initiative in Gedenken an Oury Jalloh
Dessau, January 6, 2022


To General Federal Prosecutor Mr. Peter Frank,
To Minister of Justice Mr. Marco Buschmann,
To Secretary of the Interior Ms. Nancy Faeser,

BREAK THE SILENCE! – OPEN LETTER



Our brother Oury Jalloh was burnt by German police officers on January 7,, 2005 in a police cell in Dessau-Rosslau. He had been held in custody without court order. At the time of the crime, his hands and feet were in shackles that fixed him to a fireproof mattress. Almost 17 years have passed since his atrocious death. Yet, from the very first days, police and state officials perpetrated the lie that Oury Jalloh had set himself on fire. Until today they stand by their assertion despite evidence to the contrary. Therefore we, the family of Oury Jalloh, friends and activists, have been fighting for almost 17 years now for a rightful investigation, for justice and for uncovering the truth, which is, that Oury Jalloh was tortured and then burnt in police custody. On the occasion of the anniversary of his death, I therefore turn to you with this open letter.

New, independent expert opinion

In November 2021 the results of yet another forensic examination were published, which had been commissioned and organized by the Initiative in Gedenken an Oury Jalloh (Initiative in Remembrance of Oury Jalloh). In collaboration with international experts from film, performance, and science, police cell Nr.5 of Dessau’s police station was reconstructed meticulously and absolutely true to the scene. With experiments on possible movement and the spread of the fire this experiment proved anew, that Oury Jalloh could not have set fire to himself.  

In detail the experiments lead to the following conclusions:

• Oury Jalloh, being shackled in 4-point restraints, did not have sufficient range of movement to be able to himself set fire to the fireproof mattress he was affixed onto.
• It has been ascertained that a fire accelerant was used (possibly about 2,5 liters or 5.3 US pints of gasoline).
• The door of the cell must have been open to ensure enough air circulation for the actual duration of the fire for half an hour.

Only under these parameters was it possible to obtain results similar to the aftermath of the fire on the scene, as documented on January 7, 2005.

These findings substantiate the evidence, already established on the basis of forensic science: Oury Jalloh was tortured and then killed in police custody in cell Nr. 5 in the police station of Dessau-Rosslau.

Structural racism

At least since the Black Lives Matter protests, the dimensions of anti-Black racism in Germany have come into public focus. Yet any signs of an increased understanding of and solidarity with Oury Jalloh from politicians are still missing. Anyone who claims  #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd in Germany, without demanding investigation into Oury Jalloh‘s case and other deaths of Black people, disregards the realities of societal power relations and inequalities in Germany and hence is part of the structural problem.

The first statistical survey of Black people’s lived realities in Germany, called Afrozensus, spells out the insufficient protection of Black people and tackling of anti-Black racism as one of the biggest all-encompassing problems of German society. BI_PoC communities in Germany and all active supporters and allies know: racism in Germany is ubiquitous. 

In the course of independent, self-organized research and investigations the Initiative in Gedenken an Oury Jalloh additionally found that German administration, judicial courts and politicians did not only cover up the murder of brother Oury Jalloh (2005), but also those of Hans-Jürgen Rose (1997) and Mario Bichtemann (2002) in the same police precinct in Dessau-Rosslau. In order to illustrate the sheer magnitude of these cases, the notion of „OURY-JALLOH-COMPLEX“  has been introduced into the discussion, ever since those findings were released in October 2018.

In 2017, UN-experts expounded in their report the prevailing racist structures in Germany whereby their counsel was to establish independent investigative structures. In this respect the Initiative in Gedenken an Oury Jalloh was explicitly mentioned. With great concern were noted not only the killing of Oury Jalloh, but also the as yet unclarified deaths of other Black people in Germany, such as Christy Schwundeck, Laye-Alama Condé and N’deye Mariame Sarr. It must be stated that notwithstanding this, nothing much has happened in this respect since the „Decade for People of African Descent  2015-2024“ was proclaimed by the United Nations.

Judicial system, politics and police are part of the problem

The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Halle closed down inquiry in the case of Oury Jalloh in 2017 and in 2018 Public Prosecution in Naumburg reaffirmed this decision. Furthermore, the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament refused, in 2019, to establish a fact-finding committee in the case of Oury Jalloh, and the Regional Appeal Court (Oberlandesgericht /OLG) in Naumburg declined proceedings to force criminal prosecution as motioned by the lawyer of Oury Jalloh’s family.

As a consequence Oury Jalloh’s family will press charges against the responsible senior public prosecutors of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Naumburg for obstruction of justice and hindrance of investigations in office. At the same time, the family will call for the immediate reopening of investigations in a murder trial against the police officers of the police precinct in Dessau, whose names are already known.

I stand with the Initiative and other signatories in support of Oury Jalloh’s family’s requests. Even today, politics have succeeded in suppressing the truth and actively spreading and maintaining the falsehood of Jalloh’s suicidal setting fire to himself. The reason for this practice may well be, that admitting and acknowledging killings in police custody and the subsequent suppression of knowledge hereof, shall have wide ranging consequences for the federal government of Germany.

Yet, there is no other way: The Federal Public Prosecutor General and you, politicians of the newly elected federal government, must face and live up to one’s responsibilities. For those who endeavor to keep the OURY-JALLOH-COMPLEX unsolved and unclarified by state bodies, and who disavow the scientifically reconstructed and stated facts, is part of the problem!

OURY JALLOH – THAT WAS MURDER! - BREAK THE SILENCE!

Mouctar Bah

Letter signatories (updated 6 Jan):

 Individuals

  • Achan Malonda, Musikerin & Aktivistin

  • Aidan Riebensahm, Expert:in für dekoloniale und postkoloniale Theorien und Strategien

  • Aileen Puhlmann, Leitung Lemonaid & ChariTea e.V.

  • Aisha Camara, Kommunikationsberaterin, Moderatorin

  • Alice Hasters, Autorin und Journalistin

  • Amewu, Musiker

  • Amina Aziz, Autorin

  • Aminata Belli, Journalistin und Moderatorin 

  • Amira Haruna,Bloggerin 

  • Anab Awale, Co-Leiterin der Koordinierungsstelle bei Decolonize Berlin e.V. und ISD Mitglied

  • Anna Dushime, Journalistin und Podcasterin

  • Armand Zorn, Mitglied des Deutschen Bundestags, SPD-Fraktion

  • Aslı Özarslan, Filmemacherin

  • Atahan Demirel, Politischer Aktivist

  • Austen P. Brandt, Pfarrer und Antirassismustrainer 

  • Ayesha Khan, Autorin

  • Bafta Sarbo, Vorstand Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland 

  • Betânia Ramos Schröder, Mitbegründerin von Afrobas, BasilNilê e.V. Mitglied und Mitbegründerin der Initiative Pawlo-Massoso e.V.

  • Biplab Basu, Berater, ReachOut Berlin 

  • Blaise Francis, Rechtsanwalt

  • Boaz Murinzi Murema, Vorstand Bantu e.V. und EIRENE e.V.

  • Celina Bostic, Musikerin

  • Charlotte Njikoufon, 1. Vorsitzende - Kone Netzwerk zur Förderung Kommunikativen Handelns e.V.

  • Jan aka Chaoze One, Musiker

  • Canan Turan, Filmwissenschaftlerin und Filmemacherin

  • Christelle Nkwendja-Ngnoubamdjum, Autorin, Aktivistin

  • Ciani-Sophie Hoeder, Journalistin, Gründerin Rosa Mag

  • Dr. Daniel Loick, Philosoph, Amsterdam

  • David Mayonga, Moderator

  • Deborah Krieg, Bildungsreferentin

  • Dr. Céline Barry, Vorstandsmitglied des FG DeKolonial e.V

  • Dr. Felix Axster, Koordinator Standort Berlin des Forschungsinstituts Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt

  • Dr. Jeanette Ehrmann, Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin im Arbeitsbereich Politische Theorie und Ideengeschichte am Institut für Politikwissenschaft der Justus- Liebig-Universität Gießen

  • Dr. Mahret Ifeoma Kupka, Kuratorin

  • Dr. Manuela Bauche, Historikerin, Freie Universität Berlin

  • Dr. Maria Alexopoulou, Historikerin, Zentrum für Antisemitismusforschung (TU Berlin)/ Universität Mannheim

  • Dr. Mariam Popal, Allgemeine und Vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft, Universität Bayreuth

  • Dr. Marion Kraft, Autorin

  • Dr. Miriam Schroer-Hippel, Sozialwissenschaftlerin

  • Mirrianne Mahn, Stadtverordnete, Frankfurt 

  • Dr. Noa K. Ha, postkoloniale Stadtforscherin

  • Dr. Onur Suzan Nobrega, Soziologin

  • Dr. Sina Arnold, Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Zentrum für Antisemitismusforschung der Technischen Universität Berlin

  • Dr. Sué González Hauck, Rechtswissenschaftlerin

  • Dr. Yasemin Shooman, Historikerin

  • Dr. Harpreet Cholia, Soziologin

  • Eleonore Wiedenroth-Coulibaly, Autorin

  • Emilene Wopana Mudimu, Sozialarbeiterin, Co-Leiterin Kingz Corner

  • Dr. Emilia Zenzile Roig, Politikwissenschaftlerin, Center for Intersectional Justice 

  • Emre Telyakar, Stadtverordneter, Frankfurt

  • Enrico Ippolito, Autor

  • Fatma Aydemir, Schriftstellerin und Journalistin

  • Fatma Çelik, Geschäftsführerin von ndo e.V.

  • Ferda Ataman, Publizistin

  • Ferat Ali Kocak, Antirassistischer Aktivist und Mitglied des Abgeordnetenhauses von Berlin

  • Gülşah Stapel, Kulturerbe und Erinnerungsforscherin

  • Hadija Haruna-Oelker, Autorin 

  • Hadnet Tesfai, Moderatorin

  • Hami Nguyen, Politische Bildungsreferentin

  • Hanna Diederich, Diplom-Sozialarbeiterin /-pädagogin

  • Harpreet Cholia, Soziologin

  • Hengameh Yaghoobifarah, Autorin 

  • Ibrahim Arslan, Aktivist, Überlebender Brandanschlag Mölln

  • Idil Baydar, Comedian

  • Idil Efe, Agentin für Diversität – Stadtmuseum Berlin

  • Isidora Randjelović, Leiterin Archiv RomaniPhen

  • Jasmina Kuhnke, Autorin 

  • Jasmin Giama-Gerdes, Politische Bildungsreferentin

  • Jean Peters, Gründungsmitglied des Peng Kollektivs und Journalist

  • Jeanne Nzakizabandi, Kuratorin

  • Jeff Kwasi Klein, Politischer Aktivist

  • Joshua Kwesi Aikins, Politikwissenschaftler, Universität Kassel

  • Jutta Ditfurth, Soziologin, Fraktionsvorsitzende ÖkoLinX-ELF Frankfurt

  • Karnik Gregorian, Journalist und Regisseur

  • Katja Musafiri, Journalistin 

  • Kutlu Yurtseven, Sozialarbeiter, Aktivist

  • Laura Cazés, Autorin, Speakerin

  • Leo Fischer, Autor

  • Lucia Muriel, Diplom-Psychologin

  • Mal Élevé, Musiker

  • Maria Alexopoulou, Historikerin, Universität Mannheim 

  • Max Czollek, Lyriker

  • Megaloh, Musiker

  • Melane Nkounkolo, Sängerin und Songwriterin

  • Motsi Mabuse, Choreographin, Wertungsrichterin

  • Nava Zarabian, politische Bildungsreferentin

  • Ngozi Odenigbo, Ärztin und Mitgebegründerin von Black in Medicine e.V.

  • Nikeata Thompson, Autorin, Moderatorin, Choreographin

  • Nuran Yiğit, Diplom-Pädagogin

  • Olivia Sarma, Bildungsreferentin, Vorstand VBRG e.V.

  • Olivia Wenzel, Autorin 

  • Özcan Karadeniz, Politikwissenschaftler

  • Dr. Patrice G. Poutrus, Historiker, Universität Erfurt

  • Pearl Hahn, Stadtverordnete Die Linke. Fraktion im Römer

  • Prof. Dr. Annita Kalpaka, Professorin für Soziale Arbeit, HAW Hamburg

  • Prof. Dr. Encarnación Gutiérrez Rodríguez, Soziologin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

  • Prof. Dr. Iman Attia, Professorin für Critical Diversity Studies, Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin

  • Prof. Dr. Jin Haritaworn, Associate Professor, York Universität, Kanada

  • Prof. Dr. Karim Fereidooni, Rassismus- Bildungsforscher, Ruhr-Universität Bochum

  • Prof. Dr. Manuela Bojadžijev, Migrationsforscherin, Berliner Institut für empirische Integrations- und Migrationsforschung an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

  • Prof. Dr. Natasha A. Kelly, Kommunikationswissenschaftlerin, Kade Gastprofessur Colorado College USA

  • Prof. Dr. Naika Foroutan, Sozialwissenschaftlerin, HU Berlin

  • Prof. Dr. Susanne Spindler, Fachbereich Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften, Hochschule Düsseldorf

  • Prof. Dr. Sabine Hess, Universität Göttingen, Vorstandsmitglied des Rats für Migration

  • Raul Krauthausen, Schauspieler, Aktivist

  • Refpolk, Musiker

  • Ria Cheatom, Mitbegründerin von ADEFRA e.V.

  • Ridal Carel Tchoukuegno, Journalist

  • SchwarzRund, Autor*in und Wissenschaftler*in

  • Sebastian Fleary, Diplom-Pädagoge, Theaterpädagoge, freier Trainer für Empowerment, politische und politisch-historische Bildungsarbeit

  • Seda Başay-Yıldız, Rechtsanwältin

  • Sharon Dodua Otoo, Schriftstellerin 

  • Sharonda Quainoo, Illustratorin

  • Sheila Camaroti, AfroBraz - Frankfurt

  • Simone Dede Ayivi, Autorin und Theatermacherin

  • Siraad Wiedenroth, Geschäftsführerin ISD Bund e.V.

  • Tahir Della, Sprecher ISD Bund e.V. 

  • Tarik Tesfu, Moderator

  • Tayo Awosusi-Onutor, Autorin

  • Thelma Buabeng, Schauspielerin, Moderatorin

  • Tupoka Ogette, Vermittlerin für Rassismuskritik und Autorin

  • Dr Vanessa E. Thompson, Assistant Professor, Queens University 

  • Yezenia León Mezu, politische:r Bildungsreferent:in und Übersetzer:in

  • Zuher Jazmati, politischer Bildungsreferent, Campaigner

Organisations

  • ADAN e.V. - Afro Deutsches Akademiker Netzwerk

  • ADEFRA e.V.

  • AfroPolitan Berlin

  • Allianz gegen Racial Profiling

  • BADU Berlin

  • BIPoC Gruppe der Universität Hildesheim

  • RomaniPhen Archiv

  • Bildungsstätte Anne Frank

  • CIJ - Center for Intersectional Justice

  • Copwatch FFM

  • Copwatch Leipzig 

  • Decolonize Berlin e.V.

  • Die Urbane. Eine HipHop Partei

  • Die Urbane. - eine HipHop Partei

  • Each One Teach One (EOTO) e.V.

  • FG DeKolonial e.V. - Fachgesellschaft für rassismuskritische, postkoloniale und dekoloniale Theorie und Praxis

  • Flüchtlingsrat Berlin e.V. 

  • glokal e.V.

  • Herkesin Meydanı- Platz für Alle

  • Initiative „Keupstraße ist überall“

  • Initiative 19. Februar Hanau

  • Initiative 6. April Kassel

  • Inter Bereich der Fachstelle Trans*Inter*Queer

  • Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland, ISD-Bund e.V. 

  • ISD Hannover

  • International Independent Commission on the Death of Oury Jalloh

  • KARFI - Schwarzes Kollektiv für Empowerment und rassismuskritische Bildung (Frankfurt a.M./Hannover/Hildesheim)

  • KGP - Kooperation gegen Polizeigewalt Sachsen

  • KOP (Kampagne für Opfer rassistischer Polizeigewalt)

  • Literarische Diverse Verlag

  • Microphone Mafia

  • Migration Hub Heidelberg

  • Mono & Nikitaman

  • NARUD e.V.

  • NDO - Neue deutsche Organisationen e.V.

  • Phoenix e.V. - für eine Kultur der Verständigung

  • Reach Out - ARIBA e.V.

  • Referat für Antirassismus der Humboldt-Universität

  • Romaniphen e.V.

  • RomaTrial e.V.

  • Rosa Luxemburg Initiative Bremen

  • Schwarze Schweiz Online Archiv

  • Seebrücke 

  • Side by Side Nordhessen e.V.

  • Sonnenblumen Community Development Group e.V.

  • Streikbündnis Achter Mai

  • SWANS Initiative

  • Ubuntu e.V.

  • United Colors Friedberg

  • Verband binationaler Familien und Partnerschaften - Geschäfts- und Beratungsstelle Leipzig

  • VBRG e.V. – Verband der Beratungsstellen für Betroffene von rechter, rassistischer und antisemitischer Gewalt

  • Verlagskollektiv edition assemblage

  • Youth against Racism