Migrant shops shut doors in pre-election protest against Germany's AfD

Businesses run by migrants in the German city of Magdeburg closed their doors for several hours on Wednesday in protest against the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is leading the polls ahead of an election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

A rally outside the state parliament was also planned for Wednesday.

"What is important to us is this: Nobody should have to prove through work or economic output that they belong to this society," said Saeeid Saeeid of the Saxony-Anhalt refugee council.

Around 150 businesses in the area around one of Magdeburg's central squares, Hasselbachplatz, including restaurants, barbershops and kiosks, took part in the strike, closing from 10 am to 3 pm (0800-1300 GMT), an organizer said. Businesses not owned by migrants also planned to join the strike.

Saeeid said there was "an extraordinary sense of solidarity" within the community. "Business owners are motivating one another, joining forces and peacefully raising their voices against racism and exclusion."

The aim is to draw attention to what would be missing if migrant-run businesses did not exist, a co-organizer said. Migrants keep care services running, deliver parcels, and work in construction and industry, she said.

"But we don't want to be seen only as workers, but as people with all their needs," said the organizer, who works as a social worker.

She said the strike was meant to be a wake-up call to society and an appeal to look closely at the AfD's programme.

Saxony-Anhalt elects a new state parliament on September 6. The state's AfD branch, which is classified as a far-right extremist group by the domestic intelligence agency, currently leads the polls and is seeking an absolute majority to lead a state parliament for the first time.