ImmiGrün - the alliance of the "InländerInnen" (opposed to german word "Ausländer") was founded in early 1994.

The reason was the necessity to react to the growing danger of right extremism and xenophobia in our society and the need for finding solutions for a better living together of all citizens with equal rights.

The aim of ImmiGrün's work is to support local, regional, national, European and international efforts at promoting a multicultural, civil and ecoglocical society.

ImmiGrün wants to advance the political engagement of immigrants and "InländerInnen" within the society.

Through informing, especially in cooperation with groups and institutions of the immigrants, human rights, feministic and ecologocical movements as well as through developing alternatives ImmiGrün makes the effort to reach these goals.

ImmiGrün regards itself as a place, where new impulses can be developed through a free dialogue of different opinions.

The above mentioned aims show a nearness to the party BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN, without being tied to it neither organisationally nor financially.

Double citizenship and easier naturalization - are not wanted in Germany, although they are responding to reality and the life of old and new "InländerInnen". It is a no longer acceptable political scandal, that more than 7 million non-german inhabitants are excluded from any democratical engagement in the Federal Republic of Germany due to a totally antiquated and pre-democratic citizenship legal act.

ImmiGrün demands that: People born in Germany or living more than 8 years in Germany, should have the right for naturalization.

Equal rights and independent residence permit for women: The double discrimination of non-german women being immigrants must come to an end. An important step towards it would be an independent residence permit. Sex related reasons of women refugees must be accepted.

Multicultural society means more than kebab and belly-dance music: Racism cannot be beaten by dancing and anti-Semitism cannot be beaten by cooking. The murderous series of attacks in Germany indicate how much xenophobic violence has already grown. What we need is more than mere lip service and Sunday sermons about "our dear foreign citizens". Our "foreign citizens" do need civil rights as well as the feeling of being one of us and the appreciation of their cultural achievements.

Openness towards 7 million immigrants living in Germany is not only a sign of humanity and democratic culture, but also a rule of ecological reason. The economy as well as health services and pension schemes are depending on them. We do not want to be in the first row when it comes to pay taxes, fees and duties.

As new "InländerInnen" we have a right for a place in society.

Children and young people have a right for their mother tongue. The growing number of pupils of non-german descent shows the need for new concepts of intercultural learning and living. The multicultural thought must become a principle in kinder gardens, schools and the educational sector. We demand school education in different mother tongues under German school supervision and the possibility to study these languages at teachers'colleges.

Racism must be beaten effectively. The discrimination of minorities looking for flats or jobs, signing insurance contracts and going through a job training can be observed daily in Germany. We demand a legal catalogue of rules against all sorts of discrimination for better protection against racism in daily life.

Asylum is a human right. During the dictatorship of Hitler many Germans fled from the Nazi regime to other countries. The abolition of the basic right for asylum and the policy against refugees are destroying a democratic part in a system based on justice. We demand the application of the Genevian Refugees Convention and the implementation of refugee laws. Furthermore we demand an immigration law to ensure the immigration regarding social and humanitarian criteria’s.

Tolerance proves itself within daily life. It cannot be mistaken with indifference. A functioning multicultural society must be able to overcome conflicts. The construction of mosques and a religious education for muslims must be taken for granted as well as equal rights for women and realization of basic and human rights.

Integration cannot only be achieved through political and social efforts. The integration of the InländerInnen can be achieved directly by merely failing state actions: Abolition of vexations in the law for foreigners regarding residence permit and family reunions. To renounce sending juveniles liable to prosecution back to the countries where their parents come from, in fact to expatriate them.

Europe is growing together. The boundaries within the European Union are falling. Yet at the same time invisible boundaries are originating within the European Union. Future EU-citizen will be entitled to vote in the municipality and European elections and are free to travel within Europe, whereas so called "thirdstateforeigners" are excluded from these rights.

We demand the abolition of compulsory visa application and the legal equality of all people living within Europe.

Europe must adhere to its human and liberal duty of allowing admission to immigrants and refugees.

For a multicultural, civil and ecological society doesn't need less but more

D E M O C R A C Y

That's what ImmiGrün is standing up for.

 Translation by Zehra Hanning