Halle immigrant shopkeepers strike after AfD win

Immigrant shopkeepers in Halle, eastern Germany, staged a one-day strike on Thursday after the Alternative for Germany party won nearly 44 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt’s September state election.

About 30 barber shops, restaurants and small retail shops joined the action, called “Halle Without Us?”, by closing their businesses and marking them with red-and-white tape. Around 200 people also gathered in the market square to speak out about uncertainty facing immigrants and refugees in the state.

Dalal Mirzo, one of the organisers and a Syrian immigrant who has lived in Halle for 11 years, said daily racism and attacks had increased since the vote. She said more shops did not join because they feared repercussions from far-right customers.

The AfD campaigned on pledges of mass deportations and used the slogan “Remigration now!” Its regional lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund promised during the campaign to deport all foreigners living in the state illegally if he takes power, though it remains uncertain whether he will because the party fell just short of an outright majority.

Mahamad Samer, who works at a fast-food restaurant that closed for the demonstration, told AFP he felt he could not stay in Halle because of the AfD and racism. Fadi Darwish, who co-owns a shisha bar, said he hoped neighbours would understand that many Arab immigrants work hard and contribute to the community.

Mamad Mohamad, a regional Greens Party lawmaker who joined the protesters, said Saxony-Anhalt was facing deep demographic change and that services would suffer if people left. He said he receives daily messages from people planning to leave the state.