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Four Face Deportation from Germany Over Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations
German authorities are moving to deport four European Union and United States citizens for their alleged participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Berlin, which officials have described as “violent.” The individuals are accused of involvement in protests related to the Israel-Palestine conflict, sparking concerns over freedom of expression in Germany.
Residency Terminated for Alleged Protest Involvement
The residency permits of two Irish nationals, one Polish national, and one US national have been abruptly revoked due to their supposed participation in “incidents” at the Free University (FU) of Berlin. The Berlin Senate Administration asserts that during an October 17 protest, a group of masked individuals forcibly entered a university building, leading to “substantial damage” to property, including “graffiti related to the ‘Israel-Palestine complex.'”
FU leadership issued a statement alleging, “The individuals acted with extreme violence, physically assaulting staff and verbally threatening them.”
Police intervened to disperse the demonstration, arresting four individuals on charges including disturbing the peace. None of the EU/US citizens facing deportation were accused of direct involvement in the vandalism.
Despite not being convicted of any crime, the four individuals have been given a six-week deadline to leave Germany or face “coercive government measures.”
Berlin has intensified its crackdown on perceived political dissent since protests erupted across German cities following Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which itself was a response to Hamas’ incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Roberta Murray, a 31-year-old Irish citizen facing deportation, described the German response as “outrageous,” stating, “the reaction of Germany, for us to be threatened with deportation because we don’t think murdering babies is OK, is outrageous.”
Murray and the other three activists – Cooper Longbottom from the U.S., Kasia Wlaszczyk from Poland, and Shane O’Brien from Ireland – have reportedly been involved in demonstrations critical of Israel from the outset, according to reports.
Free University Protest and Deportation Orders
Tensions escalated last October when demonstrators reportedly entered and occupied the central administration building of the Free University of Berlin.
Some protesters are alleged to have sprayed slogans, damaged property using tools, and clashed with law enforcement.
The deportation orders issued against the four activists cite a broad range of alleged actions, including chanting slogans, participating in street blockades, and verbally confronting a police officer, allegedly calling them a “fascist.”
Engelhard Mazanke, director of the local immigration authority (LEA), accused the activists of supporting Hamas, “even if only indirectly.”
Longbottom refuted any association with Hamas, stating, “It’s wild even to hear the question.”
Each of the four individuals faces separate allegations from authorities, linked only by their alleged involvement in the university occupation.
Legal Challenges and Concerns Over Freedom of Movement
Shane O’Brien, accused of verbally оскорбляя a police officer, was previously brought before a Berlin criminal court and acquitted.
The four EU/US citizens facing deportation intend to appeal the decision to revoke their residency permits.
However, the LEA has initiated expedited deportation proceedings, despite the activists not having been found guilty of any criminal offenses.
The activists remain under a six-week deadline to depart Germany or face “coercive government measures.”
Franz Mayer, a professor of international law at Bielefeld University, described the decision to restrict their freedom of movement as “patently illegal” and a “scandal” reminiscent of past eras.
Alexander Gorski, a lawyer representing two of the protesters, commented, “What we’re seeing here is straight out of the far right’s playbook.”
Gorski added, “You can see it in the U.S. and Germany, too: Political dissent is silenced by targeting the migration status of protesters.”
Crackdown on Dissent Amid Rising Anti-Semitism Concerns
The tightening of freedom of expression in Germany follows a reported increase in anti-Semitic incidents after the October 7 attacks and subsequent Israeli military response.
Watchdog organization RIAS reported an 83 percent increase in anti-Semitic “incidents” in 2023, encompassing actions from graffiti to attempted arson.
RIAS stated that approximately half of the 4,782 recorded anti-Semitic incidents were connected to anti-Israel activism, frequently involving the relativization or denial of the Nazi Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews were murdered.
However, critics caution that the German government risks overreach with excessive measures that undermine freedom of expression and the foundational principle of presumed innocence.
Gorski, the lawyer, informed Berlin-based journalist Hanno Hauenstein that similar cases have seen migration law used against individuals of Arab or Palestinian descent, triggered by minimal actions such as a social media “like” or comment.
German migration law permits authorities to initiate deportation proceedings without requiring a prior criminal conviction.
Critics argue that such actions establish a concerning precedent, particularly in the context of the rise of the far-right AfD party, which is currently polling at levels comparable to Germany’s center-right political parties.
Human Rights Concerns and “Chilling Message” on Free Expression
The independent Human Rights Research Center (HRRC) recently warned of an emerging “disturbing pattern” of “suppressing” protest in Germany.
The HRRC highlighted a “particularly alarming case” from April of last year, involving a police raid on an event organized by Jewish Voices for Peace, DiEM25, and various civil rights organizations at the Palestine Congress.
According to the HRRC, police disconnected electricity, confiscated microphones, and detained participants at the event.
The HRRC concluded, “The heavy-handed response sent a chilling message – that any criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza is being equated with anti-Semitism in Germany.”