Solidarity with Ahmad Othman - No layoffs for Palestine solidarity!
We would like to express our full solidarity with Duisburg Tech worker Ahmad Othman who was fired by his employer due to his political beliefs and activities. Ahmad Othman was active in the group Palestine Solidarity Duisburg (PSDU) which campaigned for a free Palestine and against Israeli apartheid. PSDU was banned by the NRW Minister of the Interior on trumped-up charges. By dismissing Ahmad, the employer is expanding on the state repression and even warned future employers against employing him. This attempted ban from his profession is unacceptable!
The termination by the employer is not only a personal attack on Ahmad Othman, but also a worrying signal for the rights of all employees. In a democratic society, it is essential that everyone has the right to freely express their political views and stand up for their convictions without fear of repression or discrimination in the workplace. Furthermore, this is a protest against a genocide whose perpetrators are wanted by international arrest warrant. In view of the humanitarian situation - we are talking about around 64,260 dead as of June 2024 - a protest is not only legitimate, but urgently necessary. The dismissal of our colleague is a clear violation of the principle of freedom of expression and is unacceptable from a trade union perspective.
We stand firmly behind Ahmad Othman and support his decision to take legal action against this unjustified dismissal. It is important that we as trade unionists stand together and stand up for the rights of all employees, especially when it comes to protection against political discrimination. We call on the employer to reconsider this decision and withdraw the dismissal immediately. We call on all union members to show solidarity, donate to the lawsuit and support Ahmad Othman during this difficult time. Together we can send a strong signal for the protection of workers’ rights and the defense of freedom of expression in our working environment.
Click here for detailed information: https://www.psdu-verbot.info/blog/berufsverbot-gegen-ahmad
In solidarity,
Trade unionists for Palestine
- Datum: 15 January 2025