Compiled by Ana Ferreira
NEWS FROM BERLIN
Refugee beaten by police then threatened with deportation
Abdul A. was twelve years old when he saw his father being shot. This is how the 19-year-old, whose name is actually different, tells it. He spoke about his escape story – and about how he was beaten up by Berlin police officers in February. Afterwards, he was dragged before a delegation from Guinea, which was supposed to confirm his origin. Travel substitute papers could be issued, deportation can be initiated. Abdul A. is a Guinean citizen. According to questions from die LINKE, the activities of such delegation members are also sweetened by financial expenses. Source: taz
NEWS FROM GERMANY
“Querdenken” demos drive infections
In May, at the largest “Querdenken” rally in Stuttgart so far, about 10,000 participants gathered. This last Saturday, the turnout does not seem to have been significantly lower. However, there is a significant difference: then, crosses on the ground marked the mandatory minimum distance to those standing next to them. This time, the city’s public order office did not find it necessary to prescribe such crosses. A study from February identified the “Querdenken” demonstrations as a significant infection driver – with bus and train traffic in particular also coming into play as a point of infection. Source: taz
Quarantine will be lifted for vaccinated people
People who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus will soon get back freedoms, according to plans by Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU). The background to this is an analysis by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), according to which the testing and quarantine obligation for those who have been fully vaccinated can be lifted quickly. If the third wave of the Corona pandemic is broken and further opening steps based on rapid tests are taken, as in the case of retail, this decision would come into effect. In addition, according to the RKI’s assessment, fully vaccinated people would also no longer have to go into quarantine. Source: dw
Corona vaccinations are slowly getting off the ground
All over Germany, those responsible are now hoping for a faster pace of vaccination. Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) has issued the slogan that by the beginning of May 20 percent of people in Germany should receive their first vaccination. The German General Practitioners’ Association´s head, Ulrich Weigeldt, expects GP practices to get significantly more vaccine doses in the near future. Experts hope that the vaccinations in the practices will above all improve the care of the vaccination candidates: Unlike the staff in the vaccination centres, family doctors know their patients. Source: dw
More human rights violations under Covid
The Corona pandemic has led to a significant increase in human rights violations worldwide with many millions affected, according to Amnesty International. Authorities had “condoned harm or even death” of vulnerable people, such as high-risk patients, migrants, minorities, women and girls. Health workers were also particularly affected. Amnesty strongly criticises the actions of rich countries in the fight against the virus and accuses the international community of not pulling together to fight the pandemic. The report denounces too the discrimination of poorer countries in the distribution of vaccines. The Covax Initiative of the World Health Organisation, which was founded to ensure equitable supply, has been undermined by industrialised countries. Source: nd
Secret Service spies on LINKE activists
About half a year before the local elections in Lower Saxony, the state’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution informed three LINKE members of their surveillance. There was indignation about the spying from various sections of die LINKE. The co-chair of die LINKE, Janine Wissler, also demanded clarification. The domestic secret service, she said, could not be controlled democratically, but could be instrumentalised to intimidate and discredit political opponents. It is worth to remind that this is not the first time that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution of Lower Saxony has been criticised. Source: nd
