Four Gaza protesters in Germany are set for deportations despite objections from an immigration official that none were convicted of crimes.

Berlin’s immigration authorities are moving to deport four young foreign residents on allegations related to participation in protests against Israel’s war on Gaza, an unprecedented move that raises serious concerns over civil liberties in Germany.

The deportation orders, issued under German migration law, were made amid political pressure and over internal objections from the head of the state of Berlin’s immigration agency.

The internal strife arose because three of those targeted for deportation are citizens of European Union member states who normally enjoy freedom of movement between E.U. countries. None of the four has been convicted of any crimes.

“What we’re seeing here is straight out of the far right’s playbook,” said Alexander Gorski, a lawyer representing two of the protesters. “You can see it in the U.S. and Germany, too: Political dissent is silenced by targeting the migration status of protesters.”

  • VisionScout@lemmy.wtfEnglish
    719·
    2 months ago

    Unfortunately in germany, france and uk, there’s a big chunk of people that participate in protests against israel and in the protests in favor of turning the country who took them into a caliphate. Anyway i don’t think this article is true since it’s not being reported anywhere.

    • Not_mikey@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      131·
      2 months ago

      Yeah, checks notes… Cooper Longbottom, Kasia Wlaszczyk, Shane O’Brien, and Roberta Murray are surely trying to turn Germany into a caliphate…

    • fantasty@programming.devEnglish
      132·
      2 months ago

      It comes from a credible journalist who explicitly names the four victims and quotes their real, existing lawyer who has defended similar cases before.

      This is the typical Zionist playbook of spreading lies until we moved on to the next topic, and by the time it turns out to be true everyone already forgot about the issue. Don’t forget that they just did a 20-fold increase to $150m for their Hasbara botfarm. It wouldn’t be surprising if they also showed up here already. Also lots of new accounts here spreading Zionist propaganda.

      • VisionScout@lemmy.wtfEnglish
        25·
        2 months ago

        From the article:

        Some, but not all, of the allegations would correspond to criminal charges in Germany; almost none of them have been brought before a criminal court.

        They just need to take them to a criminal court and let the judge decide

  • But_my_mom_says_im_cool@lemmy.worldEnglish
    258·
    2 months ago

    Germany likes to pretend they’re super liberal and that they have no fascist citizens. They’ve gone completely to the other side of history where they now pretend like they’re above it all. I’m sick of people pretending like Germany is some sort of promised land

    • Yareckt@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
      187·
      2 months ago

      I am a German citizen and we do not pretend we don’t have fascist citizens. Why do you think we do?

      • But_my_mom_says_im_cool@lemmy.worldEnglish
        81·
        2 months ago

        Because everything we hear in Canada about Germany is lollipop propaganda about how perfect Germany is. You don’t see it from the inside but to the rest of us, the German government spends money to make themselves look like the country everyone should strive to be. You’re part of the machine so it’s no surprise you’re not aware of how others perceive you.

        We are literally told that any Nazi or fascist activity is banned and illegal, and not allowed. yet i see plenty of photos of German neo Nazi rallies

        • Yareckt@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
          101·
          2 months ago

          Oh interesting. Can you tell me what they are Spending the money on? I know of DW who often pushes german Propaganda but I think in the whole picture of the news media their reach is relatively small compared to other news outlets’ reach.

          But I still don’t think we pretend there aren’t any Nazis in Germany. You may have missed it or the news hasn’t reached you ;) but there was a big wave of protests in 2024 against rightwing extremism here Wikipedia no need to read it all but you can scroll down to the list of protests and look at the participant amounts.

      • technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        103·
        2 months ago

        B/c USA is brainwashed by the zionism that Germany supports. We’re raised thinking that Germany changed and is now a leader in anti-semitism, etc. It’s brainwashing.

        But anybody with a clue, including many Germans, realizes that their zionism is still anti-semitic AF. It’s an attack on non-fascist jews and a literal genocide against palestinians.

  • SkunkWorkz@lemmy.worldEnglish
    24·
    2 months ago

    If those EU citizens take it to EU court they’d probably win very easily. Can’t just take away freedom of movement, one of the tenets of the Union, without any due process. Seriously fuck the German politicians who pressured for this. Guess fascism is making a return, didn’t even need the AfD for that.

    • reiterationstation@lemm.eeEnglish
      5·
      2 months ago

      Israel the kings of the world?

      Nah if the USA gets blamed (deserved) Germany gets fucking blamed (also deserved as the original fucking Nazis they shouldn’t have been forgiven, either).

    • Eugene V. Debs' Ghost@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      147·
      2 months ago

      “I think re-arming doesn’t do anything but spend money that could be better spent on helping people.”

      “Shut up, this is exactly what we need right now!”

      “So you don’t care about helping people?”

      “That’s a strawman!”

      Wow it looks like we were right again, but still downvoted and removed. Odd how that always works.

        • index@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          104·
          2 months ago

          I’m sure i’ve even commented before that they should kill putin but according to the propaganda you must have it tattoed on your body or it doesn’t count and you are still a russian troll.

        • ubergeek@lemmy.todayEnglish
          101·
          2 months ago

          Everything anti-genocide is apparently pro-Russia… I’ve been accused of being a tanky, and a Russian shill; and well, I’m most certainly neither of them.

        • Mubelotix@jlai.luEnglish
          49·
          2 months ago

          Look further, he comments a lot. He tries more and more to conceal his views

          • 5gruel@lemmy.worldEnglish
            101·
            2 months ago

            Also had a look at their comment history, does not look very damning to me. Can you link a comment you are referring to?

          • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlEnglish
            92·
            2 months ago

            He retroactively went a day back in time to “conceal his views” after you called him a Russian shill?

      • index@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        117·
        2 months ago

        well known russia supporter

        Never supported the russian government in any of the comments i ever made. You sound brainwashed on propaganda.

  • truthfultemporarily@feddit.orgEnglish
    15424·
    2 months ago

    If you search for it, its only reported by two outlets. There is not a single German newspaper reporting this, including left wing or Berlin regional ones. Searching for the names in the articles returns no results linked to Berlin or Free Palestine at all. The name of the public official also turns up nothing.

    Could be misinformation.

        • fantasty@programming.devEnglish
          313·
          2 months ago

          So will you redact now that it "could be misinformation“ or are you just gonna leave it there as alternative facts, Fox News style?

          • Kalysta@lemm.eeEnglish
            7·
            2 months ago

            Or they can leave it alone and people with brains can realize that OP is older than the posts stating that the story is picked up by other outlets now.

            God forbid The Intercept gets a scoop.

    • IndustryStandard@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      573·
      2 months ago

      Already addressed this elsewhere so pasting the same comment; It is possible the American student contacted TheIntercept first. If TheIntercept is the first source then German media will likely pick up the story soon.

      I also searched for the lawyer

      “What we’re seeing here is straight out of the far right’s playbook,” said Alexander Gorski, a lawyer representing two of the protesters. “You can see it in the U.S. and Germany, too: Political dissent is silenced by targeting the migration status of protesters.”

      Alexander Gorski is the same person who overturned Ghassan Abu-Sittah’s ban from Germany which does lend a lot of credibility unless TheIntercept is straight up making up quotes from people out of thin air.

      The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) announced in a social media post on Tuesday that it, along with lawyer Alexander Gorski and the European Legal Support Centre, had successfully challenged the travel ban imposed on Abu Sitta by Germany.

    • shaserlark@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      183·
      2 months ago

      At this point it’s equally likely that the mainstream media just don’t care because of their reason of state. Idk how their reporting is on other Palestine related content but in my country it’s mostly silence, I learn about what’s happening mostly from The Guardian and Al Jazeera because most media outlets simply don’t give a fuck about Palestinian life.

      • 404UsernameNotFound@lemmy.wtfEnglish
        32·
        2 months ago

        The account in the linked article presents a completely different version of events compared to the original narrative by TheIntercept.com. According to the Tagesspiegel article, individuals armed with axes reportedly forced their way into the Free University of Berlin, where they threatened staff members and caused damage to the premises.

        • Yareckt@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
          4·
          2 months ago

          It’s not a different version. Just a different spin on the same story. It changes nothing. Notice how the Tagesspiegel only says that some of the protesters used axes to break into a building, then threatened employees but not if they used the axes for it. It does not say they used them as arms. It also does not say if the protesters that threatened people and vandalised the building are the ones that are now about to be deported just that they also broke in. It implies it though. The wonderful thing about implications is that you can imply stuff about someone that isn’t falsifiedable. So it does not add relevant details about the four people threatened by deportation. Just spin. You are being toyed with.

          • 404UsernameNotFound@lemmy.wtfEnglish
            21·
            1 month ago

            In Germany, breaking and entering can lead to deportation if it’s considered a serious crime and affects public safety. Authorities review each case individually based on the person’s situation and the severity of the offense(Aufenthaltsgesetz). However, none of the four have been convicted of any crimes which is odd. Overall, the case is not as The Intercept portrays it. It was not merely a peaceful protest leading to an unjust deportation, nor is it in any way comparable to the situation unfolding in the United States.

  • asg101@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    522·
    2 months ago

    International law: Conducting and Support of Genocide is Illegal.

    U.S./Germany law: Protesting Genocide is Illegal.

    • 404UsernameNotFound@lemmy.wtfEnglish
      811·
      2 months ago

      The challenge lies in the fact that criticism of Israel is often intertwined with accusations of anti-Semitism. Germany finds itself in a delicate position: on one hand, it has pledged unwavering support to the state of Israel; on the other hand, it must uphold the right to dissent and allow protests against Israeli policies.

      • SulaymanF@lemmy.worldEnglish
        181·
        2 months ago

        It’s not delicate at all.

        If you don’t stick to your values when they’re being tested, they’re not values: they’re hobbies.

        —Jon Stewart

        • 404UsernameNotFound@lemmy.wtfEnglish
          17·
          2 months ago

          I don’t understand how the quote applies to the situation described. Germany has a deep responsibility to support Israel because of its history with the Holocaust. However, it also believes in free speech and the right to protest. The challenge is balancing these two—supporting Israel while allowing criticism of its policies without crossing into anti-Semitism.

          • SulaymanF@lemmy.worldEnglish
            7·
            2 months ago

            No, Germany feels a responsibility to help Jews as reparations for the holocaust. Not a blank check to the rightwing Israeli government or giving them a pass when they violate international law. And certainly not violating Germany’s free speech laws by arresting nonviolent protestors condemning a foreign government for their war crimes. There’s no challenge here unless you think every protestor is an anti-Semite.

            • 404UsernameNotFound@lemmy.wtfEnglish
              26·
              1 month ago

              Here’s the thing: in your view of the world, everything appears simple—everything is either black or white. Protesters are good; cops are bad. Palestine is good; Jews are bad. In reality, the world is far more nuanced.

              • SulaymanF@lemmy.worldEnglish
                4·
                1 month ago

                Not at all what I believe but you’re looking for some kind of excuse to dismiss what I’m saying. I find that it’s always the excuse by Zionists on this sub when an atrocity is pointed out that they support, “it’s complicated,” as if that is a reason to keep up with the injustice. In this case, no it’s not complicated. Germany is violating their free speech laws and undermining their commitment to international law because they are supporting an atrocity. There’s actually easy solutions here with a sensible middle ground, and of course Germany isn’t doing it.

                Peace.

      • IndustryStandard@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        82·
        2 months ago

        Choosing between an incredibly bad lie to commit genocide and not committing genocide must be a hard choice for Germany, knowing their history and regret for their previous genocide

        No wait, Germany is supporting genocide again.

        “Germany has pledged unwavering support to a genocidal colonial apartheid” really is not the own Germans think it is.

        • 404UsernameNotFound@lemmy.wtfEnglish
          27·
          2 months ago

          The world is far too nuanced to be categorized as merely good or evil, as you suggest. Following the atrocities of the Holocaust during World War II, Germany has assumed a profound moral and political obligation to safeguard and support the state of Israel, a commitment that remains a cornerstone of its foreign policy.

          Yes, Germany has expressed strong support for Israel during the ongoing conflict, primarily through diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid to Gaza.