Thomas Pirot

Hanau

Personal, ongoing

On February 19, 2020, a right-wing extremist killed nine people in Hanau for racist motives. While the general public in Germany continued to celebrate Carnival at this time, the families of the victims, survivors, and others joined forces to fight for remembrance, justice, an investigation, and consequences.

What began as an assignment for DIE ZEIT has continued as an ongoing personal project, as well as occasional commissioned work for ZEIT Online, Fluter, Spiegel, and Veto.

#saytheirnames
Ferhat Unvar
Hamza Kurtović
Said Nesar Hashemi
Vili Viorel Păun
Mercedes Kierpacz
Kaloyan Velkov
Fatih Saraçoğlu
Sedat Gürbüz
Gökhan Gültekin

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A demonstration passes the crime scene at Heumarkt, February 2020

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A marking on a step to the La Votre bar on Heumarkt, April 2020

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Mourners move a framed portrait of Ferhat Unvar, February 2020

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An improvised memorial for Vili Viorel Păun on Kurt-Schumacher Platz in Hanau Kesselstadt, February 2020

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Hundreds gather for the burial of Ferhat Unvar at the main cemetery in Hanau, February 2020

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Protesters march from Kesselstadt to the center of Hanau, February 2020

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Aziz Kurtović, brother of the murdered Hamza Kurtović, poses for a portrait in Kesselstadt, June 2020

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Fresh flowers on the grave of Sedat Gürbüz, Dietzenbach, April 2025

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Çetin Gültekin, brother of the murdered Gökhan Gültekin, on his terrace, February 2022

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Painting of the murdered Gökhan Gültekin in his brother's bedroom, February 2022

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Protest signs with the names of those murdered shortly before the large-scale demonstration on the 4th anniversary of the attack, February 2024

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Relatives and Hanau city officials examine designs for a memorial in Hanau town hall, August 2022

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Emiş Gürbüz and Armin Kurtović imagine the possible location of the memorial on Hanau's Marktpkatz, August 2022

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Memorial at the grave of Sedat Gürbüz at the Dietzenbach cemetery on the 4th anniversary, February 2024

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Relatives and others demonstrate on the 4th anniversary in Kesselstadt, February 2024

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Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visits the Initiative 19. Februar on the 5th anniversary of the attacks, February 2025

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Said Etris Hashemi, brother of the murdered Said Nesar Hashemi, poses for a portrait, January 2024

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Relatives and friends at the grave of the murdered Ferhat Unvar on the fifth anniversary of the Attack, February 2025

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Children stand on the steps of the Brothers Grimm monument on Hanau's market square. Second anniversary of the attack, February 2022

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On the second anniversary, several hundred people join together for a demonstration through Hanau, February 2022

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Six months after the attack, a rally is held in Hanau under strict regulations because of covid, August 2020

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More than 5,000 people march in Hanau on the 4th anniversary of the attacks, February 2024

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A tense security situation leads to road barriers on the 5th anniversary, February 2025

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More than 5,000 people march in Hanau on the 4th anniversary of the attacks, February 2024

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Volunteers pack candles for the evening commemoration of the 5th anniversary, February 2025

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Newroz Duman, spokesperson for the initiative 19. Februar, in the initiative's newly rented premises in Hanau, April 2020

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A person lays flowers at the scene of the attack in Hanau Kesselstadt on the 5th anniversary, February 2025

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Piter Minneman survived the attack on February 19, June 2020

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Before the exact time of the attacks at the crime scenes is commemorated, the rooms of the Initiative 19. Februar offer an opportunity to warm up and rest, February 2025

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Rally on the Hanau market square. Fourth anniversary of the attack, February 2024

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Emiş Gürbüz, mother of Sedat Gürbüz, who was murdered in Hanau on February 19, 2020, April 2025

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Jaweid Gholam survived the attack on February 19, June 2020

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Boxes for transporting the designs for a memorial in Hanau Town Hall, August 2021

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Serpil Temiz Unvar, mother of Ferhat Unvar, who was murdered in Hanau on February 19, 2020, February 2025

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A tense security situation leads to road barriers on the 5th anniversary, February 2025

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Activists prepare pigeons for flight on the 5th anniversary, February 2025

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Valentino Kierpacz at the grave of his mother Mercedes, Offenbach cemetery, February 2022

Hanau

Personal, ongoing

more information

What began as an assignment for DIE ZEIT has continued as an ongoing personal project, as well as occasional commissioned work for ZEIT Online, Fluter, Spiegel, and Veto.

#saytheirnames
Ferhat Unvar
Hamza Kurtović
Said Nesar Hashemi
Vili Viorel Păun
Mercedes Kierpacz
Kaloyan Velkov
Fatih Saraçoğlu
Sedat Gürbüz
Gökhan Gültekin