50 years Amnesty International in Miesbach: The founder in an interview

Created: 02/14/2022, 10:00 am

50 years ago Fritz Weigl founded a local group of Amnesty International with like-minded people.

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It's been half a century since a local branch of Amnesty International was founded in Miesbach.

Fritz Weigl was there.

We spoke to him about the anniversary.

Miesbach – Amnesty International (AI) is committed to human rights worldwide.

There is also a local group in Miesbach.

It is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

On this occasion we spoke to Fritz Weigl (79).

The retired high school teacher is a founding member – and is still active against violence, torture and racism.

Among other things, he writes letters to the South Korean government to protest against the death penalty.

He wrote to the Ukrainian Interior Minister not to tolerate hate crimes against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people.

Mr. Weigl, what made you found an AI group in Miesbach 50 years ago?

The initiative came from the late Heinrich Skudlik, who was visiting a Munich AI group.

He wanted to follow the call of Peter Benenson (the lawyer and politician founded AI in London in 1961, editor's note) and mobilize people to campaign for human rights out of charity and full of hope.

Skudlik went to school with me and, like me, was a member of the Bible group in Miesbach.

I didn't shy away from taking responsibility for other people and doing my part to make the world a better place.

Has your motivation changed over the years?

What drives me is disgust at how unworthy people are treated in different parts of the world.

Change is needed there.

It was and is motivating when we can achieve success in individual cases.

This shows that the effort is worthwhile.

You feel that you can do something to change things.

I always remember the quote from Martin Buber: "He who saves a soul saves the world."

Have you never doubted the meaningfulness of your commitment?

I have to be careful not to set it too high.

I'm not a moralizer or a do-gooder.

But I think that you should intervene when someone gets under the wheels.

This can be help in an emergency, but also a letter from afar.

Of course there are setbacks, and not too few!

For example in the case of the Iranian Arman Abdolali, who was accused of murder but was a minor at the time of the crime.

The execution was postponed seven times, not least because of global protests.

Eventually the protests stopped and he was executed in November.

Can everyone really stand up for human rights?

First and foremost, each of us can ensure that we ourselves comply with human rights.

If they are not respected, everyone should intervene, whether big or small.

Even if you witness racist attacks or accusations, you should intervene with the means at your disposal.

So you should question your own and social prejudices, contradict them and send counter-signs.

your greatest achievement?

The greatest success in terms of broad impact was probably the theme evening on “70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)” in January 2020 at the Miesbach high school.

The house was full with a large number of dedicated teachers and students.

The two-hour program was filled with rich information about the UDHR.

What topic has shaped you to this day?

For me, the issue of the death penalty is very formative.

Because it was imposed so arbitrarily here in the Nazi era and elsewhere.

But also because some of the offenses for which it is imposed are so heinous that we find it difficult to demand that criminals should not be executed.

How will you celebrate the 50th anniversary?

We are participating in the Festival of Human Rights in Holzkirchen in May 2022.

In addition, there will be an art exhibition in Miesbach in July with works by Heinrich Skudlik, who was an art teacher.

Furthermore, there is an information evening on the topic of rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean together with the VHS, the Catholic educational center in Miesbach and the Network for Integration and Migration.

In addition, an exhibition 50 years of AI is planned in the Miesbach district and a festive evening in October with the Big Band of the Miesbach high school and the cabaret artist Christine Eixenberger.

I hope that we can celebrate the anniversary as we envision it.

That also depends on the Corona situation.

What do you wish for the future of AI Miesbach?

My final sentence at the UDHR evening at the Miesbach high school was: “We are faced with the question of whether the AI ​​group will see its 50th birthday.

It's up to you, biologically speaking!” There was hilarity, but there were no new entrants.

We seniors of the group are not averse to a “friendly takeover” by the younger generations (laughs).

We also hope that the idea will continue to be attractive.

Alina Buisson conducted the interview