Written by: Nayonika Manna & Ibrahim Molough
In the busy Rådhuspladsen Square in Copenhagen, a small but powerful movement has grown, led by Asma Barchalli, a 38-year-old Palestinian-Danish woman. What started as one woman with a few signs has turned into a community-driven exhibition, drawing attention to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
“This demonstration is about the genocide that’s going on in Palestine at the moment and the aggression that we are seeing from the Israeli Occupation and from the Israeli IDF in Gaza,” said Asma as she introduced herself.
Feeling the issue was underreported in the Danish Media, Asma decided over a month ago to take action.
Each day, Asma reminds passersby of the ongoing tragedy. “It’s just a little reminder that while we are living a normal life— a privileged normal life—100 to 150 people are dying daily, and we don’t hear anything about it in the media.”
Asma sees education as vital, especially for the younger generation. “We’re going to make some flyers to give out, especially because I want to reach the next generation,” she said. “It’s only when people know about this issue that they are going to do something when they grow up.”
Her activism extends beyond Palestine. “This is about being human. It’s not just about being Palestinian. It’s about standing together and getting closer and closer together, not farther away from each other like we are, unfortunately,” she emphasized. “I did the same for the Syrians… I went to Turkey when there was an earthquake… This is about standing together.”
Asma’s message is clear: “We must start with our kids. Teach them what is right. Teach them about these, our histories, the different histories, the different colonisations, the different genocides over and over again.”
At Rådhuspladsen, her quiet protest has become a powerful call for awareness, unity, and change.
This story is for an audience who are interested in news about Palestine and could be published on AL Jazeera, The New Arab or Middle East Eye.