Discriminatory payment card for refugees already in use in Bavaria, Hamburg, others- Seebrücke International

Seebrücke International, an organization that wants safe passages and an end of the criminalisation of civil sea rescue, has raised the alarm about the existence of discriminatory payment card for refugees in parts of Germany.

Seebrücke International says plans are in top gear to enforce the use of the card in other parts of Germany soonest.

It said: “In the meantime, the discriminatory payment card for refugees is already in use in some places in Bavaria, Hamburg and a few other places.

According to media reports, the 14 remaining federal states, which are pursuing standardised implementation, can now also award the contract for this to a company, after this was temporarily halted by the Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court.

The payment card will therefore be introduced throughout Germany in the coming months.”

Seebrücke  said a particular restriction is that only a maximum of €50 can be withdrawn in cash. “A massive cut in the rights and autonomy of people seeking protection.

“Participation in flea markets, for example, or a spontaneous purchase at the bakery around the corner, where only €10 or more can be paid by card, and much more will become impossible.

“@Penagerr, the nationwide online advice centre for refugees, is in direct contact with people who suffer from the discriminatory payment card on a daily basis.”

Seebrücke noted that the desperate messages clearly show that they are being denied the most basic necessities – “from shopping and access to medication to providing for their families.”

In order to support people affected by this, Seebrücke said solidarity groups and structures have already been set up in several places where the payment card already exists, for example neinzurbezahlkartehamburg and offen.kampagne in Munich.

“The groups both organise “voucher exchange” campaigns, among other things. People who are forced to use payment cards can buy vouchers in shops and exchange them for cash at exchange centres. The cash comes from people in solidarity who receive the voucher cards in return.

You can find more detailed information and material on both groups.

“We call on you to organise yourselves and provide solidarity support for those affected by the discriminatory payment card – for example by exchanging the vouchers mentioned above.”