Peace Table 2009

About 4,000 Nuremberg citizens from all parts of the population took a seat at a single long table. They ate, drank and celebrated together this special day for human rights.

With their participation, they responded to a call of Lord Mayor Dr. Maly to give a clear signal of peace, for democracy in Iran and for solidarity with Abdolfattah Soltani.
The award winner himself could not attend the peace table, as the Iranian authorities refused him to leave his country. On behalf of Abdolfattah Soltani, his wife Masoumeh Dehgan joined the Peace Table.

In spite of the serious background the Peace Table proved to be a cheerful, multi-cultural event for all citizens. Families and couples, parents associations and sports clubs, companies and groups of migrants – the participants were multifaceted as well as their “pleasures of the table”: "Champagne met lemonade from the paper cup. Fine smoked salmon rolls encountered sausages in curry sauce with chips" (M. Zimmermann, Nürnberger Nachrichten). "It's great to meet so many people here for a good cause" Farshid Ahey said to the newspaper “Nürnberger Zeitung”.

Artists from various cultures performed at eight stages along the Peace Table, and again offered a varied musical programme. Information on Iran and joint action at the beginning and at the end completed the programme.