GENEVA

UN human rights experts on Thursday called on Germany to end what they described as the "criminalising, punishing, and suppressing" of legitimate Palestinian solidarity activism, warning that the country’s actions undermine fundamental democratic freedoms.

"We are alarmed by the persistent pattern of police violence and apparent suppression of Palestine solidarity activism by Germany," the experts said in a statement.

They urged Berlin to uphold its human rights obligations and "to respect and facilitate the right to peaceful assembly for everyone without discrimination." The experts stressed that "non-violent protests are protected and must not be punished," and that dissenting political views "must not be subject to undue restrictions based on content."

According to the experts, Germany has intensified restrictions on pro-Palestinian protests since October 2023 – when Israel’s relentless offensive on Gaza began – even though most demonstrations have been peaceful. Protesters have voiced demands such as halting arms exports to Israel, ensuring humanitarian access to Gaza, and recognizing the state of Palestine.

They said demonstrators in Berlin had been met with police violence, arrests, and bans, including cases where people were detained simply for chanting "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

The experts said German courts have issued contradictory rulings on whether the slogan constitutes protected speech or condones violence.

"Germany must support, not suppress, actions aiming to stop atrocity crimes and genocide," the experts said. "No circumstances can justify unnecessary and excessive police violence or unjust criminalisation for exercising fundamental freedoms."

Critics say Germany’s foreign policy stance has been mirrored by a domestic campaign to silence pro-Palestinian voices. Over the past two years, authorities have banned hundreds of rallies, canceled cultural events and academic panels, and denied visas to prominent international speakers critical of Israel.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a staunch ally of Israel, has repeatedly emphasized Germany’s historical responsibility for Israel’s security, rooted in its Nazi past and the Holocaust.