After the Berlin administrative court on Friday confirmed the police ban on several demonstrations against Israel’s policies planned for the weekend, the applicants filed a complaint with the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court (OVG). This was confirmed by a police spokesman. The Higher Administrative Court should make a decision on Friday about the police ban on the three meetings.
The police had banned the five Palestine demonstrations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Kreuzberg, Neukölln and Mitte because there was a risk of inflammatory, anti-Semitic calls, glorification of violence and acts of violence. However, the situation will still be monitored on Saturday and Sunday and police officers will be present at Hermannplatz in Neukölln and at Oranienplatz in Kreuzberg and in Mitte, because it is possible that demonstrators can gather despite the ban. The police will then break up such a gathering.
The group Palestine Speaks has slammed the ban on its demonstrations as an “attack on our fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and expression.” It is an “alarming door opener for unlimited state repression against any opposition in Germany, be it for Palestinian human rights, anti-racism or refugee rights”.
During similar demonstrations by Palestinians against Israel last year and in April this year, anti-Semitic shouts and bottles and firecrackers were thrown at police officers. After that, another demonstration was banned by the police at the end of April. This ban was also confirmed by the administrative court.
The administrative court also currently shared the danger forecast of the police. Experiences with the earlier demonstrations gave rise to fears that violent acts could emanate from the participants. In the past, there have been bottles and stones thrown at police officers. Public calls for crimes or incitement to hatred are also to be expected.
https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/berliner-verwaltungsgericht-bestaetigte-verbot-anmelder-wollen-palaestina-demos-beim-oberverwaltungsgericht-durchsetzen/28338368.htmlV2
