Pro-Palestine slogan could lead to German citizenship applications denial: Report

Berlin (Quds News Network)- “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” may be grounds for denying German citizenship, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), local media revealed on Sunday.

As of September 26, 2024, the slogan “From the River to the Sea” may be a reason for denying German citizenship, according to the BMI.

This is mentioned in the BMI’s “preliminary application guidelines” related to the new citizenship law, which have been reviewed by Panorama, according to a report by the North German Radio and Television (NDR).

The new citizenship law came into effect on June 27, 2024, allowing well-integrated individuals working in Germany to apply for citizenship after five years, down from eight. However, the requirements for commitment to the so-called liberal democratic order have been tightened.

The BMI states, “Racism, anti-Semitism, or any other form of inhumanity excludes naturalization.”

The document identifies “From the River to the Sea,” possibly accompanied by “Palestine will be free,” as a potential exclusion reason. This includes actions such as liking, sharing, or commenting on the slogan on social media.

In response to whether this slogan could be a legal criterion for naturalization, the BMI stated that context matters.

For example, if “From the River to the Sea” is linked to explicit calls for violent actions against Israel. The ministry added that during the applicant’s personal interview and, if necessary, a follow-up conversation, it should be assessed whether the applicant genuinely supports the liberal democratic order or potentially holds anti-Semitic views.

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is a chant used for decades as a call to liberate Palestinian land from Israeli occupation. It calls for freedom from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. “Free” expresses the need for equality for all inhabitants of historic Palestine.

Its origin came upon the creation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) by diaspora Palestinians in 1964 under the leadership of Yasser Arafat. The PLO called for the establishment of a single state that extends from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea to encompass its historic territories.

The marginalisation of Palestinians within German society and the suppression of pro-Palestinian activism are not a new phenomenon in Germany.