Palestinian Supporters in Germany, France Say They Struggle to Be Heard
Editor
20 October 2023 13:44 WIB
"The question is whether it's proportionate - and that's where I think there is a concern."
Hungary and Austria have also blocked pro-Palestine protests since Oct.7, while in the rest of Europe, large rallies supporting Palestinians have been held with few restrictions.
HISTORIC RESPONSIBILITY
With an estimated 30,000 Palestinians, Berlin has one of the largest diaspora communities outside the Middle East, and anxiety over what is happening in Gaza is running high.
At an unauthorized protest in Berlin last week, Palestinians who spoke to Reuters said they felt nervous about speaking out, fearful of being labeled pro-Hamas in a country where supporting Israel is sacrosanct.
"I feel that in Germany we're not allowed to speak our mind," said Saleh Said, standing on the fringes of an unauthorized gathering.
A 32-year-old German-born to Palestinian parents, he said he condemned Hamas's violence.
Berlin's education authorities last week told schools they could ban students from wearing the Palestinian Kufiya scarf and "free Palestine" stickers.
Post-World War Two German governments have pursued close ties with Israel because of the Holocaust.
Felix Klein, Germany's ombudsman in charge of fighting antisemitism, said the country's history meant it had to be especially vigilant.
Even before the Hamas attack on Israel, Germany was restricting pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with Berlin authorities banning several on public safety grounds.
Amnesty International said in September that German police's justifications for bans on pro-Palestinian groups appeared to be based on "stigmatizing and discriminatory stereotypes", citing references in police orders to people "from the Arab diaspora, in particular with Palestinian background".
REUTERS
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