Poesieschlacht and Manege Lintorf Silence Poet Hazuki Fukuda Over Palestine Solidarity

On March 12, 2025, I, Hazuki Fukuda, participated in a poetry slam organized by Poesieschlacht and Manege Lintorf in Ratingen. I read a poem in solidarity with Palestine and criticized Germany's arms deliveries to Israel.

After my performance, the organizer of Poesieschlacht approached me backstage and said that my chosen topic was too controversial and not suitable for an event held in a state-run institution. They requested that if I wanted to address political issues in the future, I submit my text beforehand so it could be “worked on” before the event.

Meanwhile, other white German participants were able to openly discuss political topics like feminism without being silenced.