Country: Anti-Israeli slogan is a sign of terrorism
The slogan "From the river to the sea", which is often used at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, will be prosecuted in Bavaria in future. At the request of the German Press Agency, the Munich Public Prosecutor General's Office announced on Friday that the new legal assessment was based on the Federal Ministry of the Interior's order to ban the terrorist organization Hamas and the Samidoun association following Hamas' attack on Israel. The "Süddeutsche Zeitung" had first reported on this.
On page three of the prohibition order, at the end of a long list of symbols banned in Germany, such as flags or headbands, is the short sentence: "As well as the slogan "From the river to the sea" (in German or in another language)". From the point of view of the Attorney General's Office, the use of the slogan is therefore prohibited throughout Bavaria. The Bavarian decision has no direct effect on other federal states, as the assessment is the responsibility of the respective public prosecutor's offices. As recently as August, the Berlin Administrative Court ruled that the slogan was not punishable per se.
The public prosecutor's office and police in Bavaria would therefore in future initiate investigations into the use of signs of terrorist organizations even if the slogan is used in isolation - regardless of the language used. In concrete terms, this means that a conviction could result in the same penalties as for the swastika or Nazi slogans. According to Section 86a of the German Criminal Code, the 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 decision to prosecute the slogan "From the river to the sea" in Bavaria is a response to Hamas' extremist actions against Israel, aligning it with terrorism. Future demonstrations in Bavaria that utilize this slogan could lead to justice being sought through investigations and potential penalties similar to those for Nazi symbols, underscoring the government's commitment to combating conflicts and promoting peace.
Source: www.dpa.com
