Hookah bars are safe spaces

We commemorate all victims of racist violence. In particular, we would like to remember the victims of Hanau - who were attacked in their "safe spaces" and murdered in cold blood. Germany is not always safe for marginalized people, so they need special protection. These are repeatedly criminalized and attacked by the white majority society and politicians. Some of the victims of Hanau were killed in a racist shisha bar. Their only escape route was blocked. By order of the police "to facilitate raids".

Shisha bars in particular are repeatedly explained as places of dark machinations. This is how Gregor Golland (CDU politician) describes “shisha bars as the living room of the clans”.

It is never said that shisha bars are also places of healing and art. The unfounded raids on shisha bars are racist and an attack on the business of migrant read people.

Headlines like “Between sweet smoke and illegal world” create narratives that are far removed from reality and fuel racism.

We spoke to people at the Shishabar @cafemymoon in Berlin and asked them for their opinion. Why do they go to hookah bars? What happens in a hookah bar? What has changed for you since the attack in Hanau?