An open letter to friends in Europe and the United States

Dear friends,

I’m writing to address a matter that weighs heavily on my heart and conscience. On November 4, the Berlin Senate is taking measures to close down the cultural center Oyoun, a cultural hub that employs artists and cultural workers, many of whom are now facing deportation, because they dared to organize an event together with Jewish Voice, to mourn and grief in light of recent events. Together with the Jewish organization, the cultural center has been forced not only to cancel the event but also to close its doors in its entirety on being “too politically charged.” The joke is lost on me that in Berlin, in 2023, our Jewish siblings are accused of anti-Semitism and charged with being too political for the need to mourn and grief.

As many of you know, the current situation in Germany and worldwide has been increasingly fascistic. As we move from racial capitalism to technofeudalism, people are looking for scapegoats to blame. Each nation is moving one by one in support of extreme right-wing political parties and leaders as if they will magically provide us with a magical Final Solution this time.

We are failing not only our Palestinian siblings but also our neighbors. We are failing ourselves. The specter of injustice and discrimination is not a shadow of the past but a stark reality of our present. Witnessing the systematic attacks on the freedom of speech and the support for actions that go against the very essence of human rights is morally bankrupt in contrast, even to the starkest moments in history.

My experiences in Germany and the United States have been a blend of profound learning and life-altering encounters. Despite being a law-abiding resident and my privilege to contribute to the community, my legal status as an 'alien' has often overshadowed my human identity. The disheartening experiences of injustice and the lack of accountability I faced are not just personal grievances but reflections of a broader societal issue that demands attention and action.

The role of cultural institutions in a society is not just to promote art and heritage for bourgeois consumerism but to be the torchbearers of ethical values and moral courage. Seeing the cowardice, apathy, and passive complicity in these spaces is devastating, especially in a country with a history that should serve as a lesson for future generations.

In light of these reflections, I have decided to boycott events, discussions, and institutions that refuse to call for a ceasefire, that refuse to support the fight against war crimes, and the total erasure of inalienable human rights. I am boycotting this silence, and I invite you to do the same.

This letter is not an indictment of individuals or a dismissal of the positive aspects of our shared experiences. It is, instead, a call to introspection and action. I urge you all to reflect on the roles we play, the silences we maintain, and the actions we take or do not take in the face of injustice. Our collective voices and actions can shape a society that upholds the values of justice, equality, and human dignity.

With each encounter, I can see the humanity and the fear in all of us. In our daily survival calculus, it is logical to not act until the benefit tilts in our favor. But it is humane to act out of duty and justice. And as Lacan reminds us, Love is giving something you don't have to someone who doesn't want it.

I value the friendships and connections and hope that this letter serves as a catalyst for open, honest, and constructive dialogue. Let us work together towards a society where everyone is respected and valued, not for their status or label, but for their inherent human worth.

Ayoto

You can sign the petition to fight the far-right for the discontinuation of Oyoun, here.

Here, you’ll find an index of cultural institutions and collectives’ stances towards the Palestinian Liberation Movement, provided by index.palestine