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Marriage is meant to be a joyous celebration, a culmination of life’s journey, isn’t it? Well, the German authorities have managed to turn this joy into despair for a young Tunisian woman studying in France. By subjecting her to an incomprehensible bureaucratic maze, the Germans made her feel like a criminal, all because she simply wanted to marry a Tunisian residing in Germany.
For those contemplating a similar path, be warned: the process is a daunting obstacle course. Marrying a German resident, even if you are a foreign national, is far from straightforward. It all starts with the essential Certificate of Celibacy. This sacred document, adorned with the necessary stamps and signatures from a municipality in Tunisia, becomes a quest of its own. Administrative simplification becomes a distant dream.
Even if dealing with this archaic process wasn’t enough, the German Embassy in Tunis added insult to injury by demanding the governor’s stamp. Yes, you read that right, the governor’s stamp. And if that wasn’t ludicrous enough, the unfortunate woman discovered that it still wasn’t sufficient; validation from the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was required. Off to the Department of Foreign Affairs she went. Yet, even that was not the end of her ordeal.
What more was needed, you might ask? Well, passing through the TLS ordeal, a bureaucratic nightmare that drains aspiring emigrants of their money and never refunds those whose visa applications are denied. This was the final hurdle to obtaining approval from the German authorities. And all of this came at a cost: almost 270 dinars (including TLS fees + taxes) just to get the necessary stamps on the Certificate of Celibacy and the Certificate of Birth. But the financial burden was not the worst part.
The real tragedy lies in the moral cost, the unnecessary suffering inflicted upon respectable individuals under the false pretext of providing European countries with some form of guarantee. Germany was not known for subjecting its guests to such torment. Clearly, the unfounded fear surrounding the imagined invasion of migrant hordes has reached even Europe’s leading economy. This transformation is disheartening and beneath the dignity of such a great nation.
Now, everyone is labeled a fraudster, a faker, or a forger. Whose fault is it? Blame it on the stubborn prejudices surrounding illegal migration networks and fraudulent marriages. Everyone is treated with suspicion, leading to hardship for the majority of genuinely honest people. Even individuals like this young woman, with her qualifications and studies in France, are not exempt from this degrading treatment.
In the eyes of the German authorities, we are reduced to nothing. The stamp from the town hall carries no weight, nor does that of the governor or even the ministry. We are stripped down to a bare minimum, seen only as problems to be dealt with, except when our labor is needed in their businesses, hospitals, or sanitation services. In those moments, our worth suddenly increases, but only temporarily. This mentality must change, starting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The mistreatment faced by this young woman and countless others who suffer in silence deserves an official protest. It is imperative that we demand swift corrections to this unjust system. This is not just a matter of bureaucracy; it is a question of national dignity. If our nation’s honor and the well-being of our citizens mean anything to our diplomats, they must advocate for fair treatment from the Germans. Our diplomats must strive to alter the perception of us and secure a more respectful and humane approach.
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