"Football serves as a diversion": FC Karame and the discord in Berlin - A take suggesting that the passion for football in Berlin is taking attention away from the ongoing conflict.
Football Club Karame: A Beacon of Resilience and Unity in Berlin
Football Club Karame, a migrant sports club with roots in the Palestinian community, has been a significant part of Germany's cultural landscape since its establishment in 1978. Based in the historic Poststadion in Moabit, near Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the club serves as a hub for Palestinians and other migrants, fostering a sense of identity and resilience amidst challenges such as political displacement, social exclusion, and discrimination.
Founded by Mohamad Zaher, a Palestinian refugee who learned to play football in a camp and came to Berlin in 1970 to study, FC Karame was created because young people with similar backgrounds were not welcome in other clubs. Zaher, who spends a large part of his free time on youth work, has been instrumental in shaping the club's ethos, which emphasizes community, support, and the pursuit of a new life in Berlin.
The club addresses issues related to politics, conflict, and discrimination by providing a safe space for Palestinian and migrant youth to express their cultural identity through sport. They also raise awareness about the Palestinian cause and broader issues faced by migrants through community events and partnerships. By uniting players and supporters from diverse backgrounds, FC Karame promotes intercultural dialogue and solidarity, fostering social integration.
In a bid to challenge discrimination and exclusion in German society, FC Karame demonstrates the positive contributions of migrant communities to social life, particularly through sports. The club's initiatives extend beyond the football field, with Zaher working with refugees and maintaining contacts with the Palestinian territories, regularly inviting trainers from Gaza for tournaments and workshops in Berlin.
However, the club and its members have not been immune to the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia. Since October 7, 2023, there has been an increase in antisemitism in amateur football, and some members of FC Karame feel unfairly associated with the terrorist organization Hamas due to the Gaza war. The Berlin Football Association (BFV) supports prevention and safety measures for Jewish teams like those of Makkabi, while encouraging anonymous reporting of anti-Muslim incidents via their website.
The BFV's Vice President, Özgür Özvatan, believes more attention should be given to Palestinian players. With more than 200,000 people of Palestinian descent living in Germany, and about a quarter in Berlin, making it one of the largest communities outside the Arab world, football plays a significant role in the networking of this community.
Islamophobia has increased in Berlin, with the Alliance against Islamophobia and Muslim Hatred recording 650 anti-Muslim incidents and discriminations in 2022, a 70% increase from the previous year. Despite this, Zaher emphasizes that FC Karame is a club from Berlin, not an Arabic club. The club organizes workshops on National Socialism and the history of Jews in Germany at the youth center in Moabit, further demonstrating their commitment to promoting understanding and unity.
For more current or specific information about FC Karame's recent role or initiatives, dedicated reports or interviews with club members or local German migrant community organizations are recommended, as this subject is not well-covered in the indexed web search results.
The football club, FC Karame, extends its influence beyond the game by engaging in sports-betting as a means to raise funds for community initiatives and support Palestinian causes. As a beacon of resilience and unity in Berlin, FC Karame also aims to foster intercultural dialogue among players and supporters from diverse backgrounds, addressing issues such as political displacement, social exclusion, and discrimination.
