Anti-Israeli slogan classified as a terror license plate
The slogan "From the river to the sea", which is often used at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, is also classified as a criminal offense in Thuringia. The opinion of the Munich Public Prosecutor General's Office is shared in the Free State, explained the Thuringian Public Prosecutor General's Office in Jena when asked. Those affected who use the slogan at rallies must therefore expect criminal proceedings to be initiated in Thuringia.
From the point of view of the Munich Public Prosecutor General's Office, the use of the slogan is prohibited throughout Bavaria. The new legal assessment was justified by the Federal Ministry of the Interior's ban on the terrorist organization Hamas and the Samidoun association following Hamas' attack on Israel. The "Süddeutsche Zeitung" first reported on this.
At the end of a long list of symbols banned in Germany, such as flags or headbands, the ban order contains the short sentence: "As well as the slogan "From the river to the sea" (in German or in another language)". According to Section 86a of the German Criminal Code, its use is punishable by a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine.
The phrase "From the river to the sea ..." dates back to the 1960s and was already used by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) at the time. It is intended to express that the aim is the complete liberation of Palestine from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea - in other words, on the territory of Israel.
The classification of the "From the river to the sea" slogan as a criminal offense in Thuringia highlights the German government's stance against extremist views, potentially leading to conflicts at future pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The ban on this slogan and associated organizations, such as Hamas and Samidoun, is a part of Germany's wider war on terrorism and extremism.
Source: www.dpa.com
