Suppressing Dissent: Justifications Used by Germany to Prevent Foreign Sympathy for Palestine

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As global solidarity with the Palestinian people grows in response to the genocide conducted by “Israel” in Gaza since October 7, 2023, Germany is preparing to suppress the "freedom of expression" of those opposing this genocide.

In a move aimed at tightening deportation rules for foreigners, the German government adopted a draft law on June 26, 2024, that facilitates the expulsion of foreigners "who glorify terrorism," including on social networks.

Deporting Supporters

The draft law targets critics of “Israel” and foreigners exercising their freedom of expression on social media, opposing the genocide in Gaza.

Since October 7, 2023, more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and the Israeli military has displaced around 1.5 million residents of the territory. More than 61 percent of homes there have been destroyed by Israeli military actions.

The German draft law, which amends the right of residence law, stipulates that the endorsement or promotion of a single terrorist act will suffice for expulsion, whereas the current law requires supportive statements regarding multiple incidents.

The Ministry of the Interior stated that a single comment glorifying or supporting a terrorist crime on social networks can constitute a serious motive for expulsion.

Federal Minister of the Interior and Community of Germany Nancy Faeser said at a press conference, "We are not talking about a small click or a simple like, but about glorifying and spreading abhorrent terrorist content."

She added through the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers that "Islamist instigators who still mentally live in the Stone Age have no place in our country."

“Anyone who does not hold a German passport and glorifies terrorist acts here must be expelled and deported wherever possible.”

Vice-Chancellor of Germany Robert Habeck commented in a statement, saying that this law constitutes "a significant gain and strength for our country to enable persecuted individuals to find protection in Germany. However, those who violate the fundamental liberal order by praising terrorism and celebrating heinous crimes forfeit their right to stay."

The government, in its still pending draft requiring parliamentary approval, sees that "online glorification fuels a climate of violence that could incite extremists or individuals prone to committing terrorist acts."

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the residency law will change to make approval of "a single terrorist act" or its promotion a "particularly compelling reason for deportation." This means that in the future, even a single "comment glorifying and endorsing a terrorist crime on social media" could warrant deportation.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser clarified that liking a post on social media will not be sufficient grounds for deportation.

Under the proposed legislation, merely endorsing or approving a terrorist act, even on social media, will be grounds for revoking an individual's residency permit and deporting them.

Previously, German courts issued several rulings, including a fine of €4,500 against a mosque Imam in Munich after he wrote on the Day of Operation al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, "Everyone has their own way of celebrating October."

It is noteworthy that the German government's launch of new legislation to facilitate the deportation of foreigners supporting Palestine coincides with a rising wave of German dissent against the genocide in Gaza.

Mobilizing Opposition

In mid-June 2024, around 2,600 academics in Germany demanded the resignation of Education and Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger for her unlawful attempts to punish professors expressing solidarity with Gaza residents.

These academics signed a petition calling for the minister's resignation due to punitive actions against those supporting students advocating for Palestine through protests.

Since 2019, a parliamentary decision criminalizes boycotting “Israel” as "anti-Semitic," and German authorities prohibit activities opposing the Israeli Occupation.

However, it is becoming clear that "freedom of expression" in Germany will be frozen as soon as criticism of Israel's crimes against Palestinians is voiced.

Germany, representing the largest economy in Europe, remains the primary destination for irregular migrants and asylum seekers arriving in the European Union.

The Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden reported in May 2024 that 17.3 million individuals were registered in the central foreigner's register seeking protection by the end of 2023.

According to authorities, approximately 280,000 foreign nationals currently reside in Germany without valid residency permits, and around 80% of them have been allowed to stay so far due to legal or situational constraints preventing their deportation.

Following the Israeli aggression on Gaza, German cities, including the capital Berlin, witnessed pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Therefore, social media has played a significant role in mobilizing solidarity among residents in Germany to support Gaza's residents and confront Israeli genocidal war against the Palestinian people.

German media has mentioned that authorities will have the power to revoke residency for any activity supportive of Palestine.

This new decision was not surprising, especially since days before its announcement, the German intelligence agency classified the BDS movement as a "suspected extremist case."

The Interior Minister justified the decision, stating that the movement undermines international understanding by questioning "Israel's right to exist."

BDS, a global movement, aims to expose the Israeli Occupation practices, highlight its racism, and call for an end to all forms of normalization with “Israel” through boycotts, divestment, and sanctions.

Founded in 2005 by Palestinian civil society, BDS coordinates with the Palestinian National Committee for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against “Israel.”

The killing of a German police officer in May 2024 by an Afghan asylum seeker in Mannheim reignited debates about refugee deportations.

Legislative Project

Firas Obaid, a refugee residing in Germany, emphasized that "social media has played a major role in mobilizing support for the Palestinian cause in Germany by sharing updates and interacting with ongoing genocide events in Gaza."

"Many foreign figures in Germany supporting Palestine have used social media to express solidarity with Gaza residents by posting updates on their personal accounts," he noted.

"At times, police have even prevented certain figures from delivering speeches at rallies, forcing them to share their banned pro-Palestinian speeches on their personal accounts."

“The German government's adoption of a law that allows refugees to be deported simply for commenting on social media posts criticizing Israel will limit interaction with Gaza electronically or even through support for campaigns launched on Instagram and X," according to Obaid.

“Protests against what is happening in Gaza are growing in Germany, targeting international conferences held there, especially since social media plays a role in reminding those conferences of what is happening in Gaza."

Some media outlets and newspapers in Germany are criticizing supporters of Palestine.

In May 2024, the famous German newspaper Bild attacked academics who showed their support for student protests at Berlin universities in rejection of the Israeli war on Gaza.

The German newspaper alleged in its article titled "University Culprits" that there is hatred towards “Israel” at Berlin universities.

After October 7, 2023, Berlin police banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

At that time, Palestinian National Initiative confirmed that “the marches were banned for racist reasons, but we will not remain silent [..] We will announce the next steps to bring the Palestinian issue to the streets of Berlin.”

Berlin's efforts to tighten electronic scrutiny on Palestine supporters come as the government faces ongoing pressure to reduce the number of immigrants coming to and residing in Germany.

Earlier in 2024, lawmakers approved legislation aimed at facilitating the deportation of unsuccessful asylum seekers.

Simultaneously, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's liberal German administration is working to ease rules regarding citizenship acquisition and to lift restrictions on dual citizenship.

However, on June 28, 2024, Germany amended its nationality law, requiring applicants to "acknowledge Israel's right to exist."

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser welcomed the new changes, describing them as "a commitment to modern Germany."

"Anyone who does not share our values will not be able to obtain a German passport. We have drawn a clear red line and made the law much stronger than before. Antisemitism, racism, and other forms of inhuman disdain prevent naturalization. There is no tolerance for that."

CNN commented that the legislation, now in effect, is part of Berlin's efforts to combat increasing antisemitism and the rising popularity of the far-right, amidst ongoing debates over the country's stance on the Israeli war in Gaza.