Germany should know that a lot is riding on the verdict handed down to Alex Wiens on Wednesday. Anything less than a life sentence will leave Egypt, the Arab world and human rights advocates angered. And it will put Germany in a position it has tried so vehemently to remove from the stigma of being German. They have their own historical weight to deal with, so there is no need to add another Diaspora to fear the German.

Prosecutors have said almost all the right things, demanded a life imprisonment and have let everyone know that the murder of Marwa el-Sherbini needs to have justice at the end of the tunnel. However, like many in Egypt, racism has come into play and needs to be addressed, not because it matters in the sentencing of this crazed Neo-Nazi, but because it matters on a much higher level than it has ever before.

When Bikya Masr published the first English language story on the case in early July, it was an unbelievable story that left many wondering how something of this horror actually occur, let alone inside a courtroom. Questions began to surface: Where were the police? What were they doing? How could a woman be stabbed 17 times in plain daylight in front of so many people? Why was Marwa’s husband shot? These questions continue to today, despite the German government attempting to make excuses, hold the police officers responsible for the actions, rather inaction.

But, Germany, and Egypt – who deals with their black African migrants and refugees much the same way – must begin to understand that continued anger and forced integration will do little than continue the ongoing difficulties of Arabs living in Europe and Europeans attempting to bring “civilization” to their Middle Eastern neighbors.

One activist recently told me that “life is difficult in Europe for non-white people. We could be the most integrated, speak their language perfectly, but to so many, we are outsiders.” The activist continued, saying that for many Europeans the racism exhibited by Alex W. exists in a lot more people than those who take violent action.

“I have been walking down streets in Berlin, Paris and London wearing the fashion of the day and still I get calls from locals or overhear conversations about how exotic ‘those Arabs are.’ It is demeaning and this is only part of the problem,” she added.

So, what can be done, if anything? Can we finally take a step back from the emotional and defensive response that Egyptians and Germans had, respectively? We must try. Here in Cairo, life is difficult for women, who suffer from arguably the worst sexual harassment in a non-war zone (Afghanistan might be worse) and Egyptian women often talk of leaving in order to survive. Europe is the first choice to start that new life. Marwa had been living that “free” life, until she was gruesomely knifed down by a German thug.

With her death came the murder of a dream that had long sustained many Egyptians and Arabs: Europe was better. Now, they aren’t so sure. People are scared to death of living in Egypt, Egyptians that is, because the government continuously avoids helping their own citizens to live a better life. Today, one day ahead of Alex W.’s verdict, Egyptians are scared again. They are worried that Europe will not give a much-needed justice to the killer of one of their own.

In the end, if Germany fails to hand down a life sentence, all could be lost and the relationship between Europe and the Arab world will continue to be strained. Right now, Europe and the Middle East must come together and realize they have problems, but these problems can be solved through a real effort to understand the other. Marwa’s murder is not the real face of Europe, at least we should hope not.

BM

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