An oversized billboard stands right in the heart of Nuremberg. It quickly attracted at least as much attention across the city and online as well. Displayed on the poster is Nasser Ahmed, an SPD politician from Nuremberg. Next to the XXL portrait photo, the words read: "My N-word is Nuremberg."
A statement that was bound to spark controversy, especially in the city known as the home of human rights. The politician surely anticipated this. And the reactions didn’t take long to pour in. “Is this supposed to be good politics?” “Is this funny?” “This is totally unacceptable,” “You can’t be serious?!” “Who in their right mind thinks this lands well?”—these are just a few of over 500 comments, solely on the Meta platform Instagram.
The billboard was also a topic in other comment sections. An influencer known as "ichbinginapunkt," who repeatedly brings the issue of racism into the public eye in her Instagram clips, addressed the matter as well. As of now (Monday evening, January 19, 2026), her critical video has garnered over 17,000 likes and 300 comments. Gina herself is followed by more than 174,000 people on Instagram alone.
Uproar in Nuremberg: Nasser Ahmed sparks debate with SPD
Among other things, the main message was that the campaign would reopen old wounds associated with the "N-word." In an interview with nordbayern.de, Nasser Ahmed now elaborated further. “I, too, am a person with a migration background. I am Black. And yes, I know what the N-word means—in its racist use. But I refuse to let my identity be defined by exclusion. My identity is defined by my home: Nürnberg. That is my N-word. The message on the poster is actually: I stand for a Nürnberg of opportunities. For a city where people can afford housing, where there are good schools for all. For a Nürnberg where people can thrive regardless of their wallets, background, or obstacles. The reactions here locally, including those from our community in Nuremberg, show me that the vast majority understand it exactly that way.”
The politician went on to say that he had deliberately read the criticism, which was mostly coming from outside the region, and had responded to many comments. Indeed, Ahmed personally replied to many accusations. He said he “of course understands” that the term might trigger discomfort due to personal painful experiences. “But in the end, I stand by the poster.”
Furthermore, the SPD politician made it clear that the billboard was meant as a one-off action. In the coming days, however, additional contributions will follow, focusing on political issues such as affordable housing, quality schools, and a well-functioning city. “I hope we can soon have a more in-depth discussion about these topics, which are currently on the minds of many Nürnberg residents,” Nasser Ahmed concluded his statement to our media outlet.
Aside from this, the election campaign in Nuremberg has now entered its crucial phase. Just a few weeks ago, Ahmed engaged in a verbal duel with Mayor Marcus König on Instagram, among other things. We have compiled all the details of this case for you once more in this article: