A hate-free breakfast in Prague
It’s 9am on Sunday morning in late October and I’m in Studio Alta – a kind of artistic studio space – in Prague’s Holešovice district. I’m visiting an “Open Breakfast” or “Hate-free Breakfast” designed to bring together people of all kinds of faiths and backgrounds.
“My name is Nela, and I am half Czech and half Slovak. I am a Muslim and I came here because I think that it is important to meet people of different religions and different races and to prove to other people that we can have breakfast together, and it can be peaceful and it can be a nice experience.”
So I’ve misjudged by saying that you are of Middle Eastern origin. You are a half Czech and half Slovak. I suppose there aren't many Muslims in either country.
“Yes, there is a minority of Czech people who have converted to Islam. I am not really sure how many people from the Middle East, Asia or Africa are here.”
Is it difficult for you in the Czech Republic? Do you ever experience any prejudice or anything like that?
“Yes, I do. I think before it was better, but now with the refugee crisis it has gotten worse. Even if I say that I was born here and I am half Czech, they don’t care. They put me into their box with other refugees and other Muslims. They don’t consider me to be Czech, really.”
So this breakfast event is a kind of statement for getting along...
“Yes, it is. You know, I have many Czech and Slovak friends who are non-Muslims, and I don’t have any problems with these people.”
And your friend here – can I ask you name?
When did you come to the Czech Republic?
“Around four years ago.”
So not part of the current refugee crisis...
“Yes.”
And I am guessing you are quite young.
“I am fourteen–years-old.”
How have you found life in the Czech Republic?
“It is good. We are happy here.”
Do you ever have any problems because you are either Muslim or have brown skin – sometimes there is prejudice against people with brown skin, and people may think you are a Roma...
“Yes. Some people think I will kill them [laughs]!”
“My name is Martin Pokorný.”
And what brings you here to this event?
“My girlfriend is friendly with Lukáš [Houdek] and the other guys organising this breakfast with Hate Free Culture. And also I am glad that people here can organise something like this in these weird times with the prevalent xenophobia on the rise in this country. That has made me feel scared, so I think it is very necessary to do things like this. To show people that Muslims and other outsiders can be friendly and are not dangerous to Czechs.”
When you look at the mainstream response of Czechs during the current refugee crisis, how has that made you feel?
“I feel scared. And all the people saying we must clear the country of foreigners – it is very scary. Unbearable.”
I am now with another young Czech, Eliška Frescherová, who informs me that she is of the Jewish faith.
“To be specific, I am preparing for conversion.”
From Christianity to Judaism?
“No, from ‘nothing’. My parents are not religious. But I have from my father’s side some Jewish ancestors, so I am now thinking about conversion.”
It’s funny because when we say ‘nothing’, it’s quite true, isn’t it, that Czechs are largely a highly atheistic people – some say even the most atheistic in the world. So religion doesn’t really play a role here...
“Yes, that is true.”
Is it difficult being religious here? Or is it more difficult being different here?
“I think that in the Czech Republic it is difficult to be different from others. It is enough when you don’t look like each other. People give you strange looks, and you immediately get the sense that they are telling you it is not OK.”
I’m now sitting at a table with two people from Egypt, two people from Ukraine. In front of us is food from Norway, there is also halva, some Egyptian specialties, Indian dishes, and all sorts of other food. I am already reaching saturation point in terms of how much I can eat! So, if anything, this is also a celebration not just of multiculturalism, but also of international cuisine.
And now I am joined by Lukáš Houdek, the organiser of this event. This is the second such breakfast if I am not mistaken...
“Yes, the second breakfast. We call it the ‘Open Breakfast’. It is open for everyone.”
Did you change the name from ‘Hate-free Breakfast’?
From the people I have spoken to today, I am getting a sense of general relief that something like this can exist here, given the current climate. There are many negative headlines coming out of the Czech Republic with regards to Czech perceptions towards all kind of minority groups. So is this event designed to turn the tides a bit?
“Yes, we wanted to show that it is possible to meet together, to meet new friends from different religious groups, ethnic groups, and sexual groups. And we wanted to show that it was possible to be together and be friends. As you see, it can work if you want it to.”
Another thing is that it is quite a celebration of food, right? I’ve just been eating Indian desserts, and hummus, and all kinds of things...
“Exactly. Visitors can show if they can or can't cook. It is a kind of competition in some ways!”
Is this supported by the government? Because you aren’t just a photographer and activist, but also work for the Czech government’s social exclusion office.
“Yes. It is part of the efforts of the government agency for social exclusion. But it doesn’t require any money. Because Studio Alta [provides the facilities and] gives coffee, water, juice and that kind of basic stuff. And people bring the food, so there is nothing else needed. It is a very low-budget activity, yet it can have a really great impact.”
Can you try to sum up the different kinds of people who are here today? People from different countries are here; and Muslims, including Czech and Slovak Muslims...
“I think that maybe around 60 people are here. There are different groups of Muslims, from different countries, and also Czech Muslims. There are Jews, atheists and Christians – and different sub-groups of Christians.”
And also gays and lesbians.
“Yes, gays and lesbians. So it is a big mix. There are also some physically disabled people. Anybody who wanted to attend was welcome, and we are really happy that it works, and that various groups of people are here.”
