Bochum – ESI at film screening and public debate on refugee and migration policy – “My Way”

12 June 2021
Video: figurative.film

ESI’s Gerald Knaus was invited to a film screening and public debate for “MY WAY – Die Geschichte von Hussain Hussaini – Einer der überlebte” (“My Way – The story of Hussain Hussaini – one who survived”), directed by Jakob Gatzka.

The documentary traces the perilous journey of Afghan refugee Hussain Hussaini, who flees his homeland in search of safety and a better life. Accompanied by filmmaker Jakob Gatzka, he makes his way from Iran to Germany a second time.

In the discussion, Gerald spoke about the current situation of refugees and migrants, especially the tragedy of pushbacks at the EU’s borders and deaths in the Mediterranean. He stressed the need for humane borders and policies that will allow fast and fair asylum procedures, the importance of cooperation with third countries and why Germany should increase its refugee resettlement programme and establish a transatlantic resettlement cooperation with Canada and the US.

Speakers included Zoubeida Khodr (chairwoman of the integration committee of the city of Bochum), Serdar Yüksel (member of the supervisory board of UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe and member of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia), Hussain Hussaini (refugee and protagonist of the film MY WAY), Jakob Gatzka (director of the film MY WAY). The discussion was chaired by Cornelia Ulbert (Institute for Development and Peace, University of Duisburg Essen).