Following Pressure From Israeli Ambassador, Berlin Police Crack Down on Anti-Genocide Event
Berlin (Quds News Network)- German police surrounded a Berlin event featuring UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, forcing organizers to relocate to a smaller venue. The event, which focused on Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people, was originally scheduled at Freie Universität Berlin but was canceled after pressure from Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) and Israel’s ambassador.
Along with Albanese, the event, titled “Reclaiming the Discourse: Palestine, Justice, and Truth,” hosted, Amnesty Germany’s Julia Duchrow, and Jewish artists Eyal Weizman and Michael Barenboim. The organizers included DiEM25 and MERA25.
The anti-genocide event was accordingly held at Junge Welt’s premises, where only a fraction of the expected 500 attendees could fit. Heavy police presence added to the tense atmosphere, in an attempt to shut the event down. Organizers resisted police presence, but five officers attended, claiming to “defend freedom of expression”, reported Flamman.
Earlier in the day, graffiti calling Albanese “antisemitic” appeared at previous venues. This marks the second time German authorities have tried to block an event featuring the UN human rights expert. In February, Munich’s Ludwig-Maximilians University canceled an event hosting her, citing ‘security concerns’.
Germany’s suppression of pro-Palestine and anti-genocide voices has drawn growing criticism. Earlier this month, authorities banned Arabic slogans and music at demonstrations claiming that hate speech is difficult to detect. A decision that was widely described as racist. Amnesty International slammed the move as an attack on free speech.
