Child of NSU victim expresses lack of exit strategy for Zschäpe

In Nuremberg on Monday, Semiya Şimşek and Gamze Kubaşık, daughter of NSU victim Mehmet Kubaşık, will read from their book "Our Pain is Our Strength," aiming to inform and sensitize the youth about their experiences. The memorial takes place 25 years after the tragic event that claimed the life of Mehmet Kubaşık, a Turkish flower seller who was shot by members of the Nationalsozialistischer Untergrund (NSU).

The NSU, a right-wing extremist group, remained undiscovered for years and committed murder over a period of time. The terror cell consisted of three main members: Uwe Mundlos, Uwe Böhnhardt, and Beate Zschäpe. Tragically, Mundlos and Böhnhardt committed suicide in 2011 to avoid arrest, while Zschäpe was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to life imprisonment with particular severity.

Zschäpe is currently in prison and is being considered for inclusion in the right-wing extremist exit program "Exit." However, Semiya Şimşek and daughters of other NSU victims have voiced their concerns, criticising the program due to Zschäpe's alleged ongoing contact with right-wing extremist circles and lack of remorse.

Semiya Şimşek believes that Zschäpe still maintains contact with right-wing extremists and does not genuinely want to exit the neo-Nazi scene. This sentiment is shared by the daughters of other NSU victims, who feel that their long wait for clarification of the acts and the subsequent investigations have been another source of pain and frustration.

The NSU killed ten people, nine of whom were self-employed people of Turkish and Greek origin, and one was a German policewoman. The memory of these victims will be honoured at the crime scene in Nuremberg on September 9, where Semiya Şimşek and her brother Abdulkerim Şimşek will remember their father.

Semiya Şimşek expresses concern about the shift to the right in Germany and the possibility of a similar murder series in the future. She aims to create a basis for schools and young people to understand and deal with the history and the topic of racism through her book and her activism.

The NSU complex is still not fully clarified, but Semiya Şimşek's efforts in raising awareness and advocating for justice are a testament to her courage and resilience. Her book, "Our Pain is Our Strength," serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of hate crimes and the importance of standing against extremism.