Fear for the children – Özdemir reports a threatening taxi ride in Berlin

Persecuted, yelled at, harassed in a taxi with his own children: Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Cem Özdemir has, in his own words, experienced some frightening moments in his political career.

The Green politician said in Stuttgart that he had already found himself in very unpleasant situations on the train or at train stations. “The worst thing is not worrying about yourself, the worst thing is worrying about your children, your partner, and also your neighbors.”

Özdemir described a taxi ride with his children through Berlin. When the driver of Turkish origin recognized him, he suddenly accelerated and then “hit the iron” - again and again. With his brutal driving style, the man wanted to force him and his children to get out. His daughter calmed his frightened son. “This is simply unbearable,” said Özdemir.

“I thought the police were coming soon”

According to Özdemir, he also found himself in a threatening situation at Leipzig Central Station. He was traveling with an intern when supporters of the Legida movement chased them after a demonstration. Legida was a right-wing extremist, Islamophobic and xenophobic offshoot of the Pegida movement. "I thought the police were coming. But no one came."

The pursuers finally caught up with him, insulted him, shouted in his ear and provocatively held a cell phone in front of his face. He asked the intern not to worry and to stay calm. “I have no idea what I would actually do if he punched me in the face.” Two police officers finally led Özdemir and his companion to the track.

Only shop with neighbors

The Bundestag's Armenia resolution from 2016 was also a turning point for Özdemir. In it, the parliament recognized the massacres and expulsions of Armenians and other Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire in 1915/16 as genocide.

As the Green Party leader at the time, Özdemir was one of the key initiators. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally attacked the Turkish-born politician, and Özdemir received death threats and was placed under police protection.

Özdemir reported that it was clear to him that the resolution would drastically change his everyday life. Simply shopping or going out on the street was no longer possible. He made sure not to leave the house alone and to take a neighbor with him when shopping.

Threat right up to kindergarten

According to him, the threat extended into his children's everyday lives. Other parents in the kindergarten asked whether their children would be safe if the “Özdemir’s children” were also looked after there. “You get a guilty conscience when you go there and want to pick up your children,” says the head of government. “This raises questions that you wouldn’t wish on anyone.”

Özdemir reported on these experiences against the background of the fearful debate surrounding the Berlin Left Party Elif Eralp, who wants to become the first governing mayor of her party. A "Spiegel" report caused a stir, according to which Eralp sees her family's safety in danger if she explicitly comments on a known terror supporter.