Police raid Berlin conference as repression of Palestine activism escalates in Germany

Congress organizers held a press conference on Saturday, April 13, the day after the event was raided and canceled by police to respond to the shocking events.

They clarified that the ban issued by the police also applies to any alternative event organized to provide a venue to the speakers, whether online or in person.

“What happened yesterday shou... See more

the German Minister of Interior, Nancy Faeser, welcomed the banning of the Congress and said: “It’s good that the Berlin police have declared a tough crackdown on the so-called Palestine Congress in Berlin. We are keeping a very close eye on the Islamist scene.”

Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian sentiments have characterized the public discourse on ... See more

The next speaker after journalist Heba Jamal was renowned Palestinian scholar and author Salman Abu Sitta, who was participating remotely through a pre-recorded video.

Two minutes into the video, dozens of police suddenly stormed the center of the hall in front of the screen and the stage and stopped the streaming.

As the police stormed the stage o... See more

In a shocking, yet expected step, Berlin police raided and shut down the “Palestinian Congress”, as it kicked off on Friday, April 12. The Congress was planned to be a three-day event featuring speakers from around the world, including Ghassan Abu-Sittah, Salman Abu Sitta, Noura Erakat, and Ali Abunimah among many others.

The conference, organized b... See more