The Hans-Jochen Tschiche Democracy Award

for the promotion of engagement, democracy and parliamentarism.

In honor of our long-time honorary chairman Hans-Jochen Tschiche, Alliance 90/The Greens of Saxony-Anhalt are offering the Hans-Jochen Tschiche Memorial Award for the promotion of engagment, democracy and parliamentarianism.

Hans-Jochen Tschiche was particularly concerned with strengthening democratic actors in civil society, parliamentarianism and supporting victims of right-wing, racist and anti-Semitic violence.

The award

The Tschiche Democracy Award honors people and initiatives that have shown outstanding commitment to an open, diverse and democratic society in Saxony-Anhalt.

Work against racism, anti-Semitism and all other forms of group-based hostility that lead to discrimination, exclusion and violence are the focus of this award.

All proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by a six-member jury (consisting of representatives of Hans-Jochen Tschiche’s family and Miteinander e. V., the Heinrich Böll Foundation Saxony-Anhalt and Alliance 90/The Greens Saxony-Anhalt).

Hans-Jochen Tschiche

* November 10, 1929 | † June 25, 2015

 One of the last public photos shows Hans-Jochen Tschiche sitting in front of a bookshelf, in which gardening guides, art picture books, philosophical writings and theological works are lined up. The picture reveals Hans-Jochen Tschiche as someone who, as a Christian, theologian, civil rights activist and politician, constantly tested reality against what he stood for: democratic conflict, responsibility and solidarity. Hans-Jochen Tschiche cultivated these virtues regardless of office or mandate. It was his attitude. He had a keen sense of when the challenged, and he stood up for them. In doing so, he did not only make friends.

Hans-Jochen Tschiche was an encourager in a discouraging time. In the late 1980s of the GDR, he and people from the oppositional peace and environmental movements sought ways out of social stagnation. In seminars and samizdat magazines, he demanded what others did not even dare to think: a radical democratization of society. As a founding member of the New Forum, he provided impetus for a renewal of the GDR. Tschiche had already swum against the tide before. He had criticized the suppression of the Prague Spring and supported the protest against Wolf Biermann’s expatriation.

A few years later, Tschiche was the leader of the Green parliamentary group in the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt when asylum seekers’ shelters were attacked and migrants were hounded by neo-Nazis. Tschiche was not satisfied with the response of consternation. His parliamentary group commissioned a study on the manifestations of right-wing extremism in Saxony-Anhalt and called for a social debate on the subject.

After the far-right DVU’s election success in Saxony-Anhalt, this debate became more urgent and broader. Hans-Jochen Tschiche, together with SPD and PDS, the two governing parties at the time, facilitated a genuine dialogue between civil society initiatives and politics on how to push back right-wing extremism and the arduous grassroots work of democratizing society.

From the Miteinander e. V. Obituary, which has been co-founded by Tschiche.

Hans-Jochen Tschiche
1929-2015

Criteria

Potential award winners can nominate themselves, be nominated by anyone living in Saxony-Anhalt or by democratic associations and initiatives active here.

Prize candidates should be active in at least one of these areas:

  • combating racism and right-wing extremism 
  • supporting victims of right-wing, racist and anti-Semitic violence
  • strengthening and supporting democratic structures
  • youth participation and education
  • the integration of refugees and migrants

Applications and proposals can be submitted until January 31, 2023.

Prize and award ceremony

The Hans-Jochen-Tschiche-Memorial Prize comes with a cash prize of 1,000 euros.
The presentation and handing over will take place at an award ceremony.

The jury’s decision is final.

Previous award winners

2023: Ismet Tekin as well as the AWO MeGa working group
Ismet Tekin, as a survivor of the anti-Semitic and racist attack in Halle on October 9, 2019, has decided to fight against the silence and the oblivion that unfortunately sets in far too quickly. Ismet Tekin does not give up and, despite some counterattacks, does not give in. Together with the “Tekiez” solidarity group, he has transformed the former kebab restaurant in Ludwig-Wucherer-Straße into a place of remembrance, education and conversation. Learn more

Tearing down walls and dismantling borders. Directly on the Green Belt, which for years separated two states, a biotope now connects Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. But it is not only the Marienborn German Division Memorial, the Hötensleben Border Monument or the Paleon that tell stories. The AWO’s MeGa working group is also actively dismantling borders and sending out reminders. Learn more

2022: Razak Minhel
For almost 30 years, Razak Minhel has been working for a tolerant, diverse, democratic society with his ideas, all his energy, assertiveness and great commitment. He is a co-founder of the Multikulturelles Zentrum Dessau e. V. (MKZ), one of the very first migrant organizations in Saxony-Anhalt. He created a place of counseling and support for people with migration history, a place to get to know and exchange different religions, cultures and political views. Learn more

2019: „Oschersleben ist bunt“ as well as Susanna and Markus Nierth
The initiative “Oschersleben ist bunt” consists of committed, young people who organize themselves under high personal commitment. They shape their living environment for themselves and others and support refugees as well as victims of right-wing violence. Learn more

Susanna and Markus Nierth are ambassadors of the “Alliance for Democracy and Tolerance against Extremism and Violence”. In spite of personal threats, the couple gives courage for the commitment against right-wing extremism and for our modern democracy. Learn more

2017: „Buntes Roßlau“
The initiative “Buntes Roßlau” (2017 award winner) was founded in 2015 in response to xenophobic marches in Roßlau. With changing allies, they organize meetings, an annual rock festival and charity events such as “Christmas in a Shoebox” in 2016 or a Christmas dinner for the needy in 2017. The initiators had to endure repeated attacks against their home and constant hostility such as demonstrations in front of their house.. Learn more