On 22 October 3ezwa, a new association for justice in Germany and freedom in Palestine, was launched.
Founded by a coalition of activists and groups unified in solidarity with the people of Palestine, 3ezwa’s focus will be to provide financial and legal support to those who experience repression for their commitment to the Palestinian cause.
Since long before 7 October 2023, German authorities have pursued a policy of repression to intimidate the pro-Palestine movement, threaten migrant communities, and silence all forms of dissent against Germany’s pro-Israel Staatsraison (reason of state).
3ezwa is an association born from the Berlin Legal Fund, a fundraising campaign established in October 2023 to provide financial support for pro-Palestine activists criminalised by the German state. Since October, the Berlin Legal Fund has raised €90,000 and worked alongside groups like the ELSC (European Legal Support Center), Rote Hilfe and KOP (Campaign for Victims of Racist Police Violence) to develop a legal support network for protesters.
3ezwa will expand on the work started by the Berlin Legal Fund, becoming the centre of a network of organisations across Germany. 3ezwa’s primary purpose will be to raise funds, support existing legal support structures, streamline the process of getting legal support, and provide free and easy-to-access advice to anyone facing repression for their solidarity with Palestine.
By becoming an officially registered association, 3ezwa will be able to operate with greater transparency and make decisions democratically through an annual general assembly open to all members. Through membership fees based on a sliding scale, 3ezwa will be able to generate more funds, support more criminalised individuals, and expand its support network across Germany. From its new official home at Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte (Greifswalderstr. 4, 10405 Berlin) 3ezwa will immediately offer walk-in sessions every Thursday and provide free counselling to those who need it.
The name 3ezwa (عزوة) refers to a close-knit group or community to which an individual is deeply connected. When someone speaks of their 3ezwa, they refer to the family, friends and allies who will stand by them, provide protection, and support them through any challenges. 3ezwa embodies collective strength, solidarity and the reassurance that you are not alone.
Together, with the support of allied groups across the country, 3ezwa’s goal is to strengthen the fundamental human rights under attack in Germany and to fight for the right to live in freedom and dignity in the entire territory of historic Palestine.
