On the occasion of the International Day against Violence against Women, the municipal representation for foreigners invited to a round of talks on Thursday, which addressed how women with a migration background are affected by violence.
Initiator Seyed Shahram Iranbomy gave speakers from Africa, Asia, South America and Europe who work in the fields of religion, politics, music and literature, including artist and author Aleksandra Botic, the coordinator of the Working Group of Turkish Mosque Associations in Frankfurt, Hüseyin Kurt, and the managing director of the Forward Germany association, Mariame Sow.
The descriptions by Frida, a young woman from Latin America, made it clear what female experiences of violence can look like on different levels.
It is a story of ignorance coupled with addiction leading to a downward spiral of violence and fear.
Frida now lives in Frankfurt and has a different name.
She ended up in Germany after the young woman met her current ex-husband at the university in her home country.
She followed him to Frankfurt.
But the great love turned out to be a dependent relationship.
Frida experienced psychological and physical violence, as she reported to the group.
With her husband at the time, she tried unsuccessfully for a year to conceive a child.
An examination by the gynecologist showed that physical causes are behind it.
Then her husband wanted a divorce.
However: Without the marriage, Frida was threatened with expulsion from Germany.
How practical that her husband promised neither to inform the immigration authorities nor to file for divorce - as long as Frida would sign a contract that he had drawn up.
She was hopelessly overwhelmed with the laws and the legal German.
She did not understand that she put her signature under the divorce papers and waived all claims, including post-marital maintenance.
The thought of being deported scared her enormously.
Despite his promise, her husband filed for divorce.
Even the notary involved apparently did not care whether the young woman understood what she was signing.
Today Frida is fighting her way back into a self-determined life.
However, the outcome of her story remains open: the immigration authorities have yet to decide whether she has to leave Germany.