On June 4, 2025, during a session of the German Bundestag, Left Party (Die Linke) MP Cansın Köktürk was expelled from the parliamentary chamber for wearing a pullover featuring a pro-Palestinian slogan. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner enforced the expulsion. The cited a violation of the parliament’s dress code, which prohibited political expressions through attire.
Prior to this session, Klöckner had privately requested that Köktürk change her clothing to comply with the established guidelines. Köktürk declined to do so, leading Klöckner to publicly address the issue during the session. She stated that we have agreed and these are the clear rules of the house, that neither stickers nor other expressions of political affiliation on T-shirts play a role.’ Following his refusal to adhere to the request, Klöckner asked her to leave the chamber.
This wasn’t his first confrontation over pro-Palestinian symbols in the Bundestag. In April 2025, she attracted attention by wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf, during the parliamentary session. This act prompted members of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to call for a ban on such symbols within the parliamentary setting.
This expulsion of Köktürk underscores the ongoing tensions within German politics regarding expressions of solidarity with Palestine. Germany’s historical context and the commitment to combating antisemitism have led to stringent regulations on political expressions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critics are arguing that these measures suppress legitimate political discourse and infringe upon freedom of expression.
The Left has had internal conflicts regarding its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In December 2024, the party ousted Palestinian-German activist Ramsis Kilani for being antisemitic, an action that generated controversy and underscored the party’s challenge in reconciling anti-racist ideology with Germany’s pro-Israel stance.
The wider political climate in Germany has witnessed greater policing of pro-Palestinian activism. Prohibitions on demonstrations, deportations of activists, and curbs on cultural activities deemed sympathetic to Palestine have been among the measures. These have attracted human rights organizations and civil liberties groups’ concern over the undermining of democratic rights in the nation.
Köktürk’s removal from the Bundestag is a turning point in the current debate regarding the boundaries of political expression within Germany. As the nation struggles with its past obligations and modern human rights concerns, the tension between preserving social harmony and defending freedom of expression continues to be a contentious and dynamic issue.
Most recently, MP Marcel Bauer was twice expelled from the plenary chamber for refusing to remove a black beret, which was deemed inappropriate. Both Klockner and Bundestag Vice President Andrea Lindholz (CSU) ordered him to follow the parliament’s dress norms or leave. Keep Reading Questeuro.com
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