Anti-Semitism at the demo in Berlin – the police are investigating on suspicion of incitement to hatred

At a Palestinian demonstration in Kreuzberg and Neukölln, hundreds chanted “Death to Israel!” and other anti-Jewish slogans. The police are investigating several reports.

A pro-Palestinian demonstration in May 2021 in Berlin-Neuköllnwww.imago-images.de

A Palestinian demonstration last Saturday in Kreuzberg and Neukölln continues to cause indignation. As reported by the Democ association, hundreds of people took part in the rally and shouted anti-Semitic slogans such as “Death to Israel!”.

The police are now investigating several cases following criminal charges on suspicion of incitement to hatred. Video material is being evaluated for this purpose, a police spokeswoman said on Monday on request.

According to them, around 500 people demonstrated in solidarity with the Palestinians and against Israel in the Kreuzberg and Neukölln districts of Berlin on Saturday. 250 police officers were deployed, including interpreters.

“If groups chant ‘Death to the Jews’ on German streets, then there is an initial suspicion of hate speech under Section 130 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code,” wrote Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) on Twitter. He assumes that the responsible security authorities will act accordingly. The designated governing mayor, Kai Wegner, was also alarmed by the events. “The pictures from Neukölln are shocking. Anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism, no matter from which direction, must have no place in Berlin,” the CDU politician told the Tagesspiegel.

“These imbeciles are abusing Germany’s freedoms and unreservedly calling for the annihilation of Israel and the Jews,” Israeli ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor wrote on Twitter. They disregard democratic values ​​”and not only cross every possible red line, but also ‘spit in the well they drink from'”.

The deputy federal chairman of the German police union, Manuel Ostermann, demanded that anti-Semitism be combated with all constitutional means. “The demo in Berlin is again a picture of shame,” wrote Ostermann on Twitter. “There has to be an end to rhetorical dismay. We need consistent action now.” The President of the German-Israeli Society (DIG), Volker Beck, called for a debate on a ban on Samidoun. The group, which describes itself as a network for Palestinian prisoners, had called for the demo, among others. Israel has declared Samidoun a terrorist organization.

Politicians from various parties also expressed their dismay at the events. “The right to demonstrate and to represent one’s position also has its limits,” wrote CDU MEP Dennis Radtke on Twitter. “It needs to be clarified why exceeding this limit was tolerated here. In the land of ‘never again’ one can only be ashamed of it.” The Berlin Greens MP Gollaleh Ahmadi wrote: “What was called out at today’s demonstration must never happen again on the streets of Berlin, it must be punished with all legal means.”

Almost a week ago it became known that an anti-Israel demonstration on the so-called Al-Quds Day in Berlin had been cancelled. A police spokesman confirmed that the registration for April 15 had been withdrawn by the organizers.