Germany prosecutes thousands of anti-genocide protesters amid allegations of antisemitism
Berlin (Quds News Network)- In Berlin, German authorities are currently handling nearly 3,200 cases against demonstrators who have protested Israel’s genocide in Gaza, according to a statement from the Berlin public prosecutor’s office. The majority of these cases are linked to allegations of antisemitism, a charge often levied against critics of Israeli policies in many Western countries.
A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office told the German news agency that of these cases, 1,070 are now under formal investigation, all connected to incidents that occurred during protests about the Gaza genocide. Additionally, Berlin police are dealing with approximately 5,300 more cases as of September 10, 2024, many of which are expected to be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for further action.
The spokesperson noted a significant increase in reported cases of “antisemitic crimes” since October 7, 2023, when the latest round of Israeli assaults against Gaza began. Of the nearly 3,200 cases, 103 were classified as hate crimes with antisemitic motives. This categorization has sparked controversy, as critics argue that in many Western nations, the term “antisemitism” is often misused to stifle criticism of Israel’s crimes in Palestine.
Many of the cases involve property damage, such as graffiti, or charges of incitement due to the use of banned slogans or support for what authorities refer to as “Palestinian resistance crimes.” Some individuals have also been charged with resisting law enforcement during demonstrations.
To date, the prosecutor’s office has filed lawsuits or imposed fines in more than 360 of these cases. However, only 20 individuals have been convicted without the possibility of appeal, reflecting the challenges in proving allegations of antisemitism in protest-related activities.
Across Germany, more than 3,200 incidents related to so-called “antisemitism” have been recorded since the start of the year, according to data from the German Interior Ministry. The German government’s broad definition of antisemitism, which often encompasses criticism of Israel, has raised concerns among human rights advocates and free speech activists.
Recently, German police were accused of excessive force when a Celtic football fan was assaulted for waving a Palestinian flag during a match between his team and Borussia Dortmund. The fan posted a video on social media platform X, showing police officers forcibly removing the flag and physically attacking him. “Just because I support Palestine,” he wrote in the video’s caption.
German police assaulted and detained a Celtic fan before the Scottish football team’s match against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday for having a Palestine flag. pic.twitter.com/gVvMor7AjZ
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) October 3, 2024
Since the beginning of Israel’s offensive on Gaza on October 7, 2023, Germany has taken a stance aligned with Israel. Some German states have even introduced a requirement that applicants for German citizenship must acknowledge Israel’s ‘right to exist’, further demonstrating Germany’s unlimited support for Israel.
