March 11, 2025
HRRC condemns the suppression of protestors in Germany and supports the right to free speech for all. We call for the immediate release of those protestors who were arrested, and urge the government to protect and promote the rights of its people.
March 8th marks International Women’s Day worldwide, a day of solidarity and activism. This year, it
was met with numerous marches, but in Germany, the occasion was overshadowed by a harsh crackdown on female pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Berlin. Footage circulating on X shows police using brute force to push back protesters, with at least 28 people arrested, according to police reports. Despite the alarming nature of this incident, German media outlets have remained silent, reinforcing concerns that pro-Palestinian voices are being actively suppressed in the country.
This is not an isolated event. A particularly alarming case occurred on April 12, 2024 in Berlin when authorities raided the Palestine Congress, an event organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, DiEM25, and various civil rights groups. During the raid, police cut off electricity, confiscated microphones, and detained several participants, in what can only be described as a deliberate attempt to stifle dissent. The heavy-handed response sent a chilling message- that any criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza is being equated with anti-Semitism in Germany.
The silencing of pro-Palestinian voices in Germany is further compounded by troubling political rhetoric. On March 4th, Felix Klein, Germany’s Anti-Semitism Envoy, publicly endorsed Donald Trump’s controversial ‘Gaza plan’, calling it “fundamentally positive” in an interview with Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, a regional German newspaper. His comments were met with swift condemnation from human rights organizations. Recognizing the backlash, the German government quickly distanced itself from Klein’s statements. During a press briefing in Berlin the next day, Interior Ministry spokesman Mehmet Ata clarified that Klein’s remarks reflected his personal views, not those of the government at large.
Felix Klein, appointed in 2018 as Germany’s first Commissioner for Jewish Life and the Fight against Anti-Semitism, is tasked with strengthening ties between the government and Jewish communities, combating anti-Semitism, and raising awareness of its various forms. Previously, he served as Special Representative for Relations with Jewish Organizations and Anti-Semitism Issues at the Federal Foreign Office.
It is crucial to emphasize that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism. Yet, Western governments continue to weaponize this false equivalence, using it to justify crackdowns on free speech while advancing far-right agendas that disproportionately target migrants and refugees, particularly from Muslim-majority countries. These tactics are not about protecting Jewish communities but rather about controlling the political narrative.
In response to these alarming developments, HRRC strongly condemns Germany’s growing suppression of pro-Palestinian voices. Furthermore, it calls on the German government to immediately halt its supply of weapons to Israel, arms that are actively being used to kill innocent Palestinian mothers and children. This directly violates the United Nations Genocide Convention, a treaty that Germany has signed and is obligated to uphold.
Standing with a people you have wronged in the past does not mean enabling them to commit genocide today. History is repeating itself in Gaza, and Germany faces a defining moment: Will it continue to support atrocities, or will it finally stand on the right side of history?
Glossary
Anti-Semitism – Hostility, discrimination, or prejudice against Jewish people.
Anti-Zionism – Opposition to Zionism, the political movement supporting the establishment and maintenance of a Jewish state in Israel; often falsely equated with anti-Semitism.
Atrocities – Extremely cruel or inhumane acts, often associated with war or large-scale violence.
Brute Force – The use of excessive or unrestrained physical power, often implying violence or coercion.
Civil Rights – The rights of individuals to political and social freedom and equality, often protected by law.
Confiscated – Taken or seized by an authority, often as a punishment or to restrict access.
Conflate – To combine or mix two or more distinct things into one, often leading to confusion or misrepresentation.
Condemnation – Strong disapproval or public criticism, often in response to perceived wrongdoing.
Controversial – Causing disagreement or debate due to differing opinions, especially on political or ethical matters.
Deliberate – Done intentionally or with careful consideration.
Dissent – The expression of opinions or beliefs that differ from those of a majority or governing authority.
Disproportionately – Unequally or unfairly distributed in a way that does not match the actual proportion or scale.
Emblematic – Serving as a symbol or representative of a broader idea or issue.
Equivalence – The state of being equal or similar in value, meaning, or significance.
Genocide – The intentional and systematic extermination of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.
Marches – Public demonstrations where people walk together to advocate for a cause or protest against an issue.
Marginalize – To push a person or group to the edges of society, limiting their influence, power, or opportunities.
Migrants – People who move from one country, region, or place to another, often for work or better living conditions.
Narrative – A particular perspective or way of presenting a story, often used to shape public opinion or discourse.
Obligated – Required or legally/morally bound to do something.
Refugees – People forced to flee their home countries due to war, persecution, or disaster, seeking safety elsewhere.
Rhetoric – The art of persuasive speaking or writing, often used in politics and public discourse.
Solidarity – Unity and mutual support among individuals or groups, especially in the pursuit of a common cause.
Stifle – To suppress, silence, or prevent something from developing or being expressed.
Suppressed – Forcibly prevented or restrained, often in the context of speech, activism, or opposition.
Sources