The Lib family moved to Germany in 2020 with their German passports, which they had obtained from the German embassy in Togo in 2019. The reason they were able to get these passports was that their great-grandfather was German, and he had married their great-grandmother in Togo in 1908, when the country was under German colonial rule. However, the German Imperial law at the time did not recognize mixed marriages, which is why the German authorities now claim that the family's citizenship was never valid.
The family is facing many challenges due to this situation. They had to give up their Togo citizenship to obtain the German one, which means they are now stateless. As a result, the German authorities have stopped providing them with social benefits, treating them as undocumented immigrants who entered the country illegally. The family's lawyer is working to help them obtain a residence permit and eventually regain their German citizenship. The family is fighting for their rights, as they had followed all the necessary procedures to obtain the German citizenship and had even participated in a German election.
The family's situation is complex and uncertain. They are not sure what the future holds, and they are hoping that the German authorities will reconsider their decision and restore their citizenship. The family wants to be able to live in Germany without any problems and have all the rights that come with being a German citizen. They are waiting for the authorities to make a decision and are hoping for a positive outcome. The family's story highlights the impact of old racist laws on people's lives and the importance of recognizing and addressing these issues.
