The new Echinger councilor Esma Gelis and her fight against pigeonholing

Created: 05/01/2022, 15:00

By: Ulrike Wilms

As Carsten Seiffert's successor, Esma Gelis has been on the Echinger council for a few weeks.

© Wilms

She is politically active, has a migration background and is a Muslim: Esma Gelis, who moved up to the Echings municipal council for the SPD.

The FT questioned her.

With Carsten Seiffert you follow in the footsteps of an "old hand" in the Echinger Rat.

How long have you been interested in politics?

Even as a child, and of course without being really aware of it, I was interested in political events and decisions.

I kept getting involved in adult conversations.

From a childish point of view, I would have liked to start at the top and change the world.

But at some point you probably realized: Everyone starts small - for example in the municipal council...

Over time, there was growing awareness and realization that smaller steps at community level are a good way to achieve sustainable improvement.

So I decided to get involved in community politics.

What are "your" topics?

And: where can you start in Eching?

I see the cultural and social opportunities in Eching as an important part of a lively community, which is why I want to preserve and promote them in order to improve coexistence.

I also value transparency and meaningful citizen participation.

We should give young people in particular more opportunities to deal with politics, with a view to voting from 16 years of age.

An existential issue is the achievement of climate targets.

At the local level, too, we need to focus on climate-friendly solutions so that our community can soon become climate-neutral.

As a member of the building committee, the creation of affordable housing is also very important to me.

What role does faith play in your life?

My faith is very important to me.

I try to live my life by the religious command that the best of people are those who are most useful to those around them.

So I stand for citizen-friendly local politics.

As a Muslim, are you respected everywhere today?

Or do you have to fight against prejudice?

Unfortunately, as a person with a migration background and a Muslim, you often have to contend with micro-aggressions such as terrorism jokes, prejudices such as that of the oppressed woman and also exclusion from certain professions.

I try to counter this pigeonhole thinking with positive representation and exchange.