Middle East conflict - Pro-Palestinian demonstrations: legal dispute in the run-up
In North Rhine-Westphalia, people once again took to the streets on Saturday in several comparatively small pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Around 200 people took part in a demonstration in Düsseldorf, as reported by a dpa reporter on the scene. There were also demonstrations in Cologne, Bielefeld and Dortmund.
The Düsseldorf demonstration had caused a legal dispute in the run-up to the event: among other things, the police had banned chanting "Stop the genocide" or "Stop the genocide" or displaying them on posters. The Düsseldorf Administrative Court still considered this to be permissible, but the Münster Higher Administrative Court overturned the ban on Saturday.
It was unlawful to prohibit the wording, an OVG spokesperson explained. It did not constitute a criminal offence. Taking freedom of expression into account, it was not apparent that the slogan violated the criminal offences of incitement to hatred or condoning certain crimes. It was also not apparent to what extent the slogan was to be understood as "condoning" the crimes committed by Hamas, in particular the terrorist attack on October 7.
Slogans that could be understood as a denial of the state of Israel, however, remained prohibited in Düsseldorf. According to the police, everything remained peaceful at the demonstration. There were also no incidents at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Cologne, Bielefeld and Dortmund on Saturday, police spokespeople said in the evening.
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- Despite the legal dispute, pro-Palestinian demonstrations also took place in other cities within North Rhine-Westphalia, such as Bielefeld and Dortmund.
- The Middle East conflict remains a contentious issue in Germany, with Israel being a significant point of contention in these demonstrations.
- In Bielefeld, as well as in Cologne and Dortmund, there were no reports of incidents or violations during the pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
- The German police have a delicate balance to maintain in these demonstrations, ensuring public safety while also upholding freedom of speech.
- The Middle East conflict has sparked protests and demonstrations across Europe and beyond, with the Palestinian territories at the heart of the disagreements.
- The legal and logistical challenges of managing such demonstrations highlight the complexity of the relationships and conflicts in the region.
Source: www.stern.de
