Demonstrations - Counter-demonstration to Eritrea festival in Stuttgart canceled
A demonstration by Eritreans critical of the regime against an Eritrea festival in Stuttgart has been canceled. A spokesperson for the city of Stuttgart announced on Friday that the person registering the gathering had withdrawn their registration on Thursday evening. The police had already announced in advance that they were preparing a large contingent against riots at the event on Saturday. "The deployment will not change", said a police spokesperson. They will be on site and keep an eye on the situation. There were massive riots at a similar event in mid-September.
The police in Stuttgart will be particularly busy at the weekend. This is because the Bundesliga home game of VfB Stuttgart and a pro-Palestine demonstration on Saturday will also keep the police busy. A festival billed as a charity festival in a sports hall in the Zuffenhausen district could, in the view of the police, once again bring opponents of the ruling government of the African country onto the scene. This is because a large number of Eritrean associations in Germany are considered to be close to the government. The club is also organizing an indoor soccer tournament in the west of Stuttgart on the same day.
According to the event poster, the tournament and festival are being organized by the Eritrean Association for the Physically Disabled. A spokesperson for the organizers said that the association is politically neutral. Money was being collected for a good cause. According to the city, the Zuffenhausen gymnasium and assembly hall, which is run by the school administration office, can accommodate up to 300 people.
In addition, the city has banned 174 people from the immediate vicinity of the event area on Saturday who were identified as troublemakers during the riots on September 16, 2023, according to a spokesperson for the municipality.
In September, the police had defended an event organized by Eritrea associations against violently rioting demonstrators. Participants at the event, who according to the police are close to the dictatorial regime in Africa, and police officers were attacked with batons, sticks, stones and bottles. At least 34 police officers were injured. More than 230 suspects are under investigation. In July, there had already been riots at an Eritrea festival in the Hessian city of Giessen.
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- The cancellation of the counter-demonstration against the Eritrea festival in Stuttgart has led to speculation about the potential spread of Criminality associated with opponents of the Eritrean government.
- Despite the cancellation of the Eritrea festival demonstration, the police in Zuffenhausen, Stuttgart, are preparing for a busy weekend, with a VfB Stuttgart home game and a pro-Palestine demonstration also scheduled.
- The police are concerned that the charity festival organized by the Eritrean Association for the Physically Disabled in Zuffenhausen could attract demonstrators sympathetic to the Eritrean government, leading to possible Counter-demo incidents.
- In light of the September riots at an Eritrea festival in Giessen, the city of Stuttgart has banned 174 individuals from the event area on Saturday, identified as troublemakers during those riots.
- The police in Germany have been dealing with Criminality and disorderly conduct during Eritrea festival-related demonstrations, most recently in Stuttgart and Giessen, prompting increased security measures at similar events in future.
- The debate surrounding Eritrean festivals in Germany has highlighted the problem of Criminality associated with certain Eritrean associations, and the need for stricter regulations and security measures at their events.
- In response to the escalating Criminality at Eritrean festival demonstrations, the Baden-Württemberg government has announced plans to hold a meeting with local authorities and community leaders to discuss measures to address the issue and protect public safety.
Source: www.stern.de
