Germany Accused of Silencing Pro-Palestinian Voices Through Deportations

Germany is facing mounting criticism after issuing deportation orders to four European nationals and a U.S. citizen over their alleged participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. None of the individual cultural workers Kasia Wlaszczyk (Poland), Shane O’Brien and Roberta Murray (Ireland), and student Cooper Longbottom (USA) have been convicted of any crimes.

Authorities accuse the activists of inciting anti-Semitic hatred, disturbing the peace, and engaging in criminal acts including resisting arrest and vandalism. However, legal teams representing the activists argue these charges are politically motivated efforts to suppress freedom of expression and protest concerning the war in Gaza.

The group was informed in January 2025 that their freedom of movement in Germany had been revoked. By March, they were ordered to leave the country by April 21 or face forcible removal. Berlin’s administrative court granted a temporary injunction for O’Brien, citing insufficient investigation by the migration authority.

The deportation orders come amid a wider clampdown on pro-Palestinian activism in Germany, where authorities have banned demonstrations, restricted symbols such as the keffiyeh scarf in schools, and punished slogans like “From the river to the sea” for allegedly denying Israel’s right to exist. Critics accuse the state of using immigration and administrative laws to silence dissent, particularly targeting Arab and Palestinian voices.

Berlin officials justified the deportations with the doctrine of Staatsrason, or “reason of state,” which asserts Israel’s security as integral to Germany’s national identity due to its Holocaust history. Internal communications reveal that even some officials within the Foreign Office questioned the legality of the deportations, but were overruled by the Berlin Senate.

The activists and their lawyers argue that the state is misusing anti-Semitism accusations as a political tool. “The decisions to deport our clients have no valid legal basis,” said lawyer Benjamin Dusberg. “This is about punishing political speech.”

The case has sparked broader debates over Germany’s balancing of its historical responsibilities with democratic freedoms, as cultural institutions face funding cuts over pro-Palestinian ties and protest-related arrests continue. Critics warn that Germany’s approach risks setting a dangerous precedent for repressing political activism under the guise of public order and national allegiance.

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