The controversial closure of the communal accommodation (GU) at Werner-Eisenberg-Weg 4 in Witzenhausen (the so-called "Flower House") in the Werra-Meißner district of northern Hesse is also the subject of administrative court proceedings. A total of six families and individuals from Werner-Eisenberg-Weg 4 are attempting to prevent their forced relocation to communal accommodations in Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Reichensachsen, and Witzenhausen through legal action and preliminary injunctions.
In December 2020, all residents of the Blumenhaus received notices to move to other communal accommodations in February 2021. They were assigned accommodations in Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Reichensachsen, and another communal accommodation in Witzenhausen. The reason for the new assignments, according to the Werra-Meißner district, was that the lease for the Blumenhaus expired on March 31, 2021.
The residents are protesting against the closure of the GU (see press release from the Working Group (AK) Asyl Witzenhausen dated 31.03.2021).
A total of six families and individuals are now seeking legal protection from the administrative court in Kassel. In these proceedings, they primarily criticize the Werra-Meißner district for failing to exercise discretion and for not taking individual circumstances into account, particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
They are complaining
- A family of five (ages 47, 40, 22, 21, and 14) with a seriously ill son who uses a wheelchair is facing relocation to Reichensachsen. The sick son requires regular specialist medical care. The specialist examinations for the young man's muscular disease are not yet complete, and the Werra-Meißner district has so far refused to fund the examinations. The school of the 14-year-old daughter is strongly advocating for the family to remain in Witzenhausen for educational reasons, so that the girl's participation in almost all areas of life is not set back by weeks.
(Case No. of the Kassel Administrative Court: 4 L 171/21.KS) - Two single men (aged 46 and 52) who, despite the Corona pandemic, were assigned to the communal accommodation at Frauenmarkt 11a in Witzenhausen and are to live there in a double room instead of in single rooms as before.
(Case Nos. of the Kassel Administrative Court: 4 L 179/21.KS and 4 L 177/21.KS) - A 60-year-old woman and a 23-year-old mother with her 2-year-old child, both of whom were also assigned to the communal accommodation at Frauenmarkt 11a in Witzenhausen, have filed a complaint. They argue, in particular, that women's protection policies are not being observed at the communal accommodation at Frauenmarkt 11a in Witzenhausen.
(Case Nos. of the Kassel Administrative Court: 4 L 181/21.KS and 4 L 175/21.KS) - A 24-year-old individual, who is to be relocated to Bad Sooden-Allendorf, claims that the forced move will cause her to lose her established social contacts in Witzenhausen and make it more difficult for her to attend school in Hann. Münden.
(Case No. of the Kassel Administrative Court: 4 L 173/21.KS)
“The allocation decisions contain no justification whatsoever and do not indicate that the Werra-Meißner district has made a legally required discretionary decision,” criticizes Göttingen lawyer Sven Adam regarding the Werra-Meißner district's actions towards his clients. “We are aware that the owners of the flower shop would continue to lease it to the Werra-Meißner district. It is incomprehensible that such an opportunity is not being utilized despite the coronavirus pandemic and the good facilities in the flower shop. It seems that financial interests are being prioritized over the health and integration of the refugees,” Manfred Liebl, speaking for the Witzenhausen Asylum Working Group, also expresses his frustration with the district's conduct.
For further questions, please contact attorney Sven Adam using the contact details provided and Manfred Liebl for the AK Asyl Witzenhausen at akasylwitz@riseup.net.
