schooLit 2026: Gamze Kubaşık, Semiya Şimşek, Christine Werner – Unser Schmerz ist unsere Kraft

The feeLit – Heidelberg International Literature Festival will be making its second appearance at halle02 with its authors from July 2 to 5. Our festival venue will be all about books and writing. This year, feeLit will showcase national and international literary stars and bring authors together with their audiences. 

schooLit 2026: Gamze Kubaşık, Semiya Şimşek, Christine Werner – Our Pain Is Our Strength

Moderator: Karin Vach

A narrative nonfiction book written by two daughters whose fathers were murdered by the far-right terrorist group NSU. A deeply moving documentary narrative with emotional impact: The fate of the two women, Semiya Şimşek and Gamze Kubaşık, who lost their fathers to right-wing terrorism, brings home the tragedy and the failure of the German justice system. Personal memories, recorded conversations, and chat logs form a plea to remain vigilant against the far right.

Semiya was fourteen and Gamze twenty when their fathers were murdered by the far-right terrorist cell “National Socialist Underground” (NSU). The two young women, who grew up in Germany, are united by the same pain. The German police’s prejudgment and the public’s indifference hit them both with full force.

“A cautionary tale about the underestimation of right-wing violence and the stigmatization of population groups, which could not be more relevant to current developments in the far-right scene […].”Robert Elstner, ekz.bibliotheksservice, October 14, 2025

“Our Pain Is Our Strength”is more than a nonfiction book: it is an act of self-empowerment.”Yağmur Ekim Çay

The workshops and readings are free for Heidelberg schools and take place at halle02. Register atfeeLit@heidelberg.de 

Space is limited.

Good to know

• Onlycashless payments(debit card, credit card, contactless) are accepted at our venue:halle02.de/cashless
• Seated event, open seating
• Local organizer: FeeLit – Heidelberg International Literature Festival