Zoff in the climbing park: Muslims and police in dialogue about prejudices!

Zoff in the climbing park: Muslims and police in dialogue about prejudices!

In the tranquil Sögel in the district of Emsland, Muslim young people and police officers recently met for a somewhat unconventional meeting in the climbing park. What looks like a happy excursion to airy heights at first glance turns out to be a closer look than a profound encounter that goes far beyond sporting activities. Questions like "As a migrant, do I have a chance with you - with the police?" or "Do you voluntarily wear the headscarf?" Show quickly that deeply rooted topics are addressed here.

The project with the meaningful name "Creating security together" sees itself as a bridge builder between young Muslims and the police. The cooperation between the Muslim youth community Osnabrücker Land (Mujos) and the Osnabrück police department aims to reduce prejudices and promote mutual trust. An already brave project in times when distrust of authoritarian institutions is common- especially in people with an escape or migration history.

stories about distrust and hope

dua Zeitun, coordinator of the Muslim Youth Community Osnabrücker Land, reports on moving stories from young people: "I had a young man who told how his father was shot by the police in his home country." Such experiences leave deep traces and a feeling of distrust that is difficult to overcome. These meeting projects try to overcome the gap by conveying a real, human image of the police.

At the same time, the police have awareness that you also have to reduce prejudices. Comments like "They only stop me because I am a foreigner" are known to the officials and they know about the harmful influence of such clichés. Some time ago it started to shoot short videos for YouTube to open these prejudices openly. The social media, which often negatively influence the image of the police from the context of the context, are a double sword.

exchange at eye level

The exchange with the young people offers a rare opportunity for police officers to make contact outside of the official framework and to reduce barriers. Niki Simon, head of the Emsland/Grafschaft Bentheim police inspection, emphasizes the need for openness: "As a police, we have to become even more open as a police," she says by underlining the importance of the open dialogue. The community spirit resulting from these conversations neutralizes the 'we' against 'you' and promotes the idea of mutual coexistence.

The project also leaves a lasting impression among the participants. Gülcin Aslan, one of the young Muslims, is impressed by the openness of the civil servants: "I think these are super-nete people, very personable and all really super open." The organizers motivate the positive experiences to continue the project and to check further funding opportunities in order to cooperate with mosque communities.

This remarkable project has already received media attention, as a report on www.ndr.de shows . Interested parties can take an idea themselves and discover the impressions held there.