Repression in Constance: Solidarity with Palestine under pressure!

Repression in Constance: Solidarity with Palestine under pressure!

Konstanz, Deutschland - The Palestine-Solidar Movement in Germany has been facing increasing repression since autumn 2023, especially in urban centers such as Berlin. In Constance, however, the situation has so far been less tense. Two groups have formed here since October 7, 2023: The Action Alliance Save Gaza (RG) and the University Group Students for Palestine (SFP). These organizations are actively committed to the rights of the Palestinians: inside by creating vigils, demonstrations, film screenings and educational work in order to draw attention to the human rights grievances and the genocide in Gaza. According to [class against class] (https://www.klassegegenkass.org/zionistinnen-in-Konstanz-feit-feit-wie-beim-kütungschutz/)) The repression in Constance is currently less than in other cities, but so far the police have not imposed any major restrictions, apart from the very controversial parole "From The River To The Sea, Palestine, Palestine Will be free “.

activist: However, the inside is under pressure. The SFP University Group experiences massive restrictions from the university management, while RG acts outside the universities. In order to counteract the activities of RG and SFP, the university group Alliance Against Antisemitism (AAA) was launched. This pursues the goal of counteracting a supposed "burgeoning anti -Semitism" in Constance. However, it is noted that no incidents against Jewish life have so far been documented by this Palestine-solidary groups. AAA has started a targeted campaign against a specific activist who is active in movement and is currently in sight for her criticism of the so -called pinkwashing and her attitude towards human rights offenses in Gaza.

repression and freedom of expression

Despite the requirements imposed by the police, the demonstrations in Constance are a sign of how strong the need for free expression is. The controversial slogan "From the River to the Sea" is an example of the legal uncertainty that prevails in Germany. In August 2024, a district court in Berlin sentenced a woman to a fine due to this slogan, while the Mannheim district court decided in May that he was not necessarily considered a Hamas slogan and is therefore covered by freedom of expression. According to the legal scholar Nahmed Samour, this is symptomatic of the ambivalent legal assessment and the different decisions that are made in different federal states. As notes Amnesty International, the uncertainty leads to the fact that many people are targeted by fear of being targeted.

Additional threats for the activist: Inside, not only from the state, but also from Zionist groups on site. The AAA uses various means to delegitimize the Palestine-Solidar Movement and put pressure on individuals. The goal is clear: a complete destabilization of the existing movements that fight for the rights of the Palestinians: inside. This repression is in the context of a global movement against the genocide in Gaza, where attacks on the Palestine-Solidar movement are also considered part of the more comprehensive struggle against what is perceived as a trivialization of genocide.

The current developments in Constance and beyond show how important it is to work for freedom of expression. The path to a more democratic discourse that also appeals to uncomfortable truths still seems far, but the resistance remains strong. The debate about how far the state can go to control the free statement of opinions is more current than ever.