Interview with Isaiah Ehrauyi from Nigeria

Hello Isaiah, you fled Nigeria. Why?
I left my country because I was threatened. They wanted to put me in prison, they wanted to kill me because I fought for women's rights. I had organized a protest because women had been threatened. This protest was attacked; three people lost their lives. As a result, I was wanted with an arrest warrant; also in the newspapers and on the internet, both in neighboring Benin and in Nigeria. The only way to escape was to leave the country. That's how I came to Germany.

When did you come to Germany?
That was in November 2017. What happened next? I kept fighting. I can never stop fighting - because that's who I am.

Did you come to Ellwangen first, to the state reception center?

First to Heidelberg, then to Mannheim, then I was transferred to Ellwangen. I was there for a few months before the problems started in May 2018.

What was there?

One night we heard noise. I saw a crowd and police trying to take a refugee. We prevented the deportation of this man and the police left the accommodation. Two days later we were attacked by the police. They beat refugees, treated us like animals, as if we were nobody and had no rights in Germany. And we are still treated badly. The reports about us in the media were lies. We would be criminals dealing drugs and attacking the police. We were really branded there. That's really bad for a refugee. After these incidents we decided to organize a protest against it and I was one of the organizers along with Alassa.
I was one of the coordinators at the tribunal at the Pentecostal youth meeting in Thuringia against the government. There we talked about Seehofer and his policy against refugees and migrants and that this is not right. Many people had their say and we learned a lot about how they think and what is happening in Germany and Europe.

Since then the authorities in Germany have been trying to criminalize you and your fight?
That wasn't the beginning - they keep trying, to this day. I was taken to court three times. Thank God my lawyer was always there. We won all the trials I was charged with. In addition to the attempts to criminalize it also has an impact on your personal situation.
It's really bad and little changes. Not just for me, but for all refugees. You are dealing with the same problems as me. We specifically demand the right to stay and live in this country. We want equal rights for everyone who lives here. I have nothing at the moment. So far I have no right to stay. It's really, really difficult to live here right now. I am married, I have a family and my wife is expecting a child and I should have the right to take care of my family. That's what we fight for. My personal situation is really very bad. We work, but we get paid late. We want to change that. I can't tell you that my situation here in this country is good. You recently won a second instance assault trial. It was impossible for the prosecution to criminalize you. The process has been discontinued. Now the lawyer's fees have to be paid. We want to support you in this.
The legal fees for the last two processes amount to over 1,700 euros. I don't have the money for that. I have to pay my rent, feed my family and myself. It would make me very happy if you, my brothers and friends, could support me in this. We wish you every success in the fight for justice and also in collecting the legal costs and all the best for your wife and family.
The group of friends Alassa&Friends asks for financial support for its work to defend the democratic rights of the refugees with a donation to the account of "Solidarity International eV", IBAN: DE86 5019 0000 6100 8005 84, keyword "Democratic Rights Alassa".