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People in European countries who wish to express solidarity with Palestine face restrictions, including bans on flags, banners, slogans and the like, in blatant violation of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
The United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic and Austria are just a few European countries that have imposed strict measures on those who wish to publicly condemn Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the killing of more than 12,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including around 5,000 children. ,
Many human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have criticized the attitude of European authorities who imposed these restrictions, arguing that they violate freedom of expression.
Amnesty said peaceful protests against Israel cannot be seen as a security issue.
According to the organization, banning pro-Palestinian protests, harassing or arresting those who express their opinions on the issue and warning that foreigners who participate in such activities could be deported do not respect human rights.
The group further said that some countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany, have prevented the EU from collectively calling for a ceasefire or denouncing violations of international humanitarian law by Israeli security forces.
Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on October 7.
At least 12,000 Palestinians have been killed, including around 8,300 women and children, and more than 30,000 others injured, according to the latest figures from the Palestinian authorities.
Anadolu has compiled some of the restrictions imposed by European countries on those who want to make their voices heard in support of the Palestinians.
In Britain, attempts have been made to ban Palestine solidarity protests, attended by hundreds of thousands of people every Saturday since October 14.
Former interior minister Suella Braverman opposed the marches from the start, saying in the first week that they amounted to “support for terrorism”.
She said carrying the Palestinian flag or chanting certain slogans could be perceived as support for terrorism “depending on the situation” and advised police to take her perspective into their assessments.
Braverman specifically took issue with the phrase “Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea,” which she called anti-Semitic and which sought to erase Israel from the map.
She also called the rallies “hate marches” and called for the November 11 march to be canceled because it coincided with Armistice Day, marking the end of the First World War.
The same call came from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the London Metropolitan Police. Sunak called a march on Armistice Day “provocative and disrespectful”.
Despite the calls, the march took place to demand Braverman’s resignation.
Braverman, in his statement after the march, said: “The streets of London are polluted by hatred, violence and anti-Semitism. »
His accusations against the police that they “took sides” for failing to prevent the protests were quickly dismissed. However, the right-wing extremists she encouraged took to the streets on November 11, causing tensions with law enforcement.
Detentions suspected of “anti-Semitism” are increasing in France
In France, the authorities imposed a total ban on demonstrations in support of Palestine. The decision was brought before the Council of State because it went against freedom of expression.
The council ruled that “a collective ban” could not be taken for the protests and asked authorities to make decisions “on a case-by-case basis.”
Since the start of demonstrations in support of Palestine, the number of people arrested “on grounds of anti-Semitism” has increased in the country.
The government responded by organizing a pro-Israel demonstration to protest anti-Semitism.
The participation of far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her supporters in this demonstration organized in Paris on November 12, at the call of the President of Parliament Yael Braun-Pivet and the President of the Senate Gérard Larcher, sparked controversy.
Large gatherings and marches prohibited in Bern from November 17 to December 17. 24
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations were banned in the Swiss cantons of Basel and Zurich after October 7 because they “pose a risk to the police, demonstrators and those around them.”
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has criticized the bans, calling them “disproportionate.”
While the ban has been lifted in Zurich, no gatherings have yet taken place in Basel.
In Bern, local authorities banned large gatherings and marches between November 17 and December 24, citing other activities planned for that time, as well as the city’s Christmas market.
Philippe Muller, the canton’s security director, called for pro-Palestinian rallies to be avoided, saying there was a strong possibility of violence.
99 pro-Palestinian demonstrations banned in Germany
Many pro-Palestinian demonstrations were banned in Germany during the first weeks of the Israeli attack on Gaza.
In Berlin, students were prohibited from wearing Palestinian shawls and stickers with Palestinian flags.
In Bavaria, the slogan “From the river to the sea”, often chanted during pro-Palestinian demonstrations, has been banned.
To date, 99 protests in support of Palestine have been banned in Germany.
Czech Republic and Austria ban slogan ‘From river to sea, Palestine will be free’
The Czech Interior Ministry announced that the use of the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, used for decades during pro-Palestinian protests around the world, would be punishable as “propaganda terrorist.”
It specifies that anyone using this expression could be accused of “potential support and encouragement of terrorism, incitement to hatred against a group of people, or negation, questioning, condoning or justification of genocide”.
The same slogan was banned during protests in Austria because it was “provocative and exclusionary”.
No permission was granted to organize demonstrations against the ban on the slogan.
Bulgaria allows pro-Israeli demonstrations, bans pro-Palestinian ones
Since October 7, authorities in Bulgaria have declared Hamas a terrorist organization. They took a pro-Israel stance, with lawmakers passing a statement condemning Hamas and providing unconditional support for Israel.
While the Balkan country has allowed pro-Israeli protests, attempts at pro-Palestinian rallies have been consistently blocked.
Although the country allows general protests, a ban was announced with a recommendation from the prosecutor’s office that “protests that appear to be indirect support for the terrorist Hamas cannot be permitted.”
The municipality of the capital Sofia also banned a demonstration planned for October 23 for the same reason.
A press conference by representatives of the country’s Arab and Palestinian associations on November 15 was boycotted by national media outlets.
Kosovo bans protests ahead of soccer match against Israel
Kosovo police have banned a planned pro-Palestinian demonstration ahead of a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying soccer match with Israel.
Following the decision, people took to social media to call for a complete boycott of ticket sales for the match.
Strict measures and a ban were also applied to the possession of all kinds of “racist, xenophobic, political and religious materials” in and around the stadium.
It was the Israeli national team’s first appearance abroad since the start of the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
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