Category: Press Release

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Press Release

Joint Public Statement in Response to Independent Inquiry into Antisemitism at Goldsmiths 

Joint Statement withdrawing engagement with the Independent Inquiry into Antisemitism at Goldsmiths 

We, the undersigned organisations and individuals, withdraw our engagement with the independent inquiry into antisemitism at Goldsmiths following our loss of confidence in the Inquiry. We refuse to engage with an Inquiry that marginalises Palestinians and adopts an approach which discriminates against them, and appears to target those who criticise Israeli policies and Zionism. 

This decision follows: 

  • The refusal of both the Inquiry Chair and the College to ensure that the Inquiry’s scope includes the impact of the College’s approach to inquiring into antisemitism on Palestinian students and staff and those standing in solidarity with them.  
  • More than a year from its institution, the Inquiry’s refusal to confirm even what definition of antisemitism it is applying to inform its work, and in particular, whether it will adopt the widely discredited IHRA definition of antisemitism and its examples. This is a crucial question because criticism of Israeli government policies and actions, and anti-Zionism are frequently weaponised and misrepresented as antisemitism.   
  • Incoherent and contradictory statements from the College and the Chair of the Inquiry, with the College assuring a member that the Inquiry is not investigating individuals, while the Chair’s position is that it is.  
  • A lack of transparency as to who and what is being investigated by the Inquiry and a failure by the Inquiry to inform those it invites to interview what, if any, allegations have been made against them, or what general complaints or allegations there are.  
  • A lack of engagement with the Student Union as an institution.  
  • The Inquiry’s failure to indicate whether it intends to consider specific allegations against two individuals which have already been investigated and dismissed. Those allegations related to speech critical of Israeli government policies and Zionism. 

We initially engaged with this Inquiry in good faith, despite our misgivings about the circumstances in which it was instituted, which involved unfair and unfounded attacks on a woman of colour. Our attempts to engage with the Inquiry have been met with responses which are both incoherent and apathetic to the international climate of rampant anti-Palestinian repression. Other groups such as the Institute of Race Relations who had initially engaged in good faith, have also since disengaged due to a loss of confidence in the Inquiry. It is a matter for the Inquiry whether it takes account of our initial written submissions. If it does so objectively, those submissions will weigh heavily on the conclusions and recommendations.  

Both the College and the Chair of the Inquiry have refused to ensure that the Inquiry’s scope will include consideration of the impact of the College’s approach to investigating antisemitism on students and staff who (a) are Palestinian, Arab or Muslim (b) are from other minoritised groups (c) who hold anti-Zionist views and (d) who hold views which are critical of Israel and/or support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. 

This Inquiry takes place within a social and political context where unfounded accusations of antisemitism are used to silence Palestinian voices and those who stand with them. In addition to Palestinians, those most often targeted for standing up for Palestinian rights come from other marginalised groups. In ignoring this reality, the Inquiry’s approach perpetuates discrimination and represents a threat to freedom of expression and academic freedom.   

We have highlighted the discriminatory impact of the Inquiry’s approach in correspondence. In response, the College has refused to amend the Terms of Reference. The Chair of the Inquiry has similarly refused to include the effect of the process on these groups within the scope, offering a non-committal and general assurance that consideration of the impact on Palestinians and others “may inform” his outcome and recommendations. This is insufficient and unacceptable.  

Antisemitism is a scourge on our society, as are all forms of racism. Antisemitism is part of a larger context of this racism, and we should not fight one form of this oppression whilst also failing to see and understand another. The vital task of combating antisemitism in our community deserves a better custodian than this Inquiry.    

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Press Release

High Court rejects bid by the University of Cambridge for a long-term injunction on Palestine protests 

Joint Press Release 

High Court rejects bid by the University of Cambridge for a long-term injunction on Palestine protests 

On 27 February 2025, the High Court of Justice refused to make an injunction sought by the University of Cambridge on 12 February, which aimed to ban all Palestine-related protests at four university sites until 2030. A coalition of groups, including the European Legal Support Center, University and College Union, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, and Liberty declared the ruling a victory for student activists, affirming their right to protest and pushing back against the University’s attempts to suppress political expression on campus.  

The University’s application came in response to a series of high-profile encampments and demonstrations led by Cambridge for Palestine (C4P) at Senate House Yard in May and November 2024. These actions were part of a broader movement demanding that Cambridge divest from companies and institutions linked to Israel’s crimes against Palestinians, particularly its violations in Gaza, which the International Court of Justice has ruled may plausibly amount to genocide—a conclusion reinforced by a large body of international law experts.  

The protests saw students engaging in peaceful direct action after what they described as months of broken commitments and failed negotiations with university administrators. Despite the university’s legal efforts to impose a sweeping five-year protest ban, the court issued a narrow, two-day injunction that restricted entry to Senate House and Senate House Yard. However, it explicitly removed any references to Palestine or C4P, while preserving the right to protest in surrounding areas. 

We welcome the court’s decision to reject the University’s attempt to criminalise protest, but this fight is far from over. The Judge has scheduled a follow-up hearing for March 2025 to decide whether a longer-term injunction will be imposed. We will continue to challenge this blatant attack on students’ fundamental rights and oppose any attempt to suppress political expression on campus. 

Since October 2023, university managements across the UK have escalated a pattern of aggressive tactics aimed at suppressing student-led protests. Disciplinary measures have been weaponised against individual students, while universities have pursued costly legal action to remove protest organisers and dismantle encampments. In many cases, police have been called to forcibly remove demonstrators, leading to arrests and, in some instances, injuries. Reports have also emerged of security staff harassing and even physically assaulting student protesters.1 

Beyond direct crackdowns on demonstrations, universities have sought to stifle, censor, and monitor lawful political expression and peaceful activism. Events have been cancelled, excessive bureaucratic barriers imposed on organisers, and students and staff subjected to investigations for their participation in protests. In some cases, individuals have even been referred to the Prevent Programme and accused of supporting terrorism simply for their social media activity or other lawful expressions of solidarity. These actions represent a growing and dangerous trend, posing a direct threat to the student movement in Britain. The right to protest and freedom of speech on university campuses are being eroded, with consequences that extend far beyond higher education and into wider civil society.  

Anna Ost, lawyer from the ELSC, stated: “This is a significant victory—one that sends a strong message to other universities attempting to impose such draconian restrictions on freedom of assembly and protest. The University of Cambridge’s efforts to undermine its students’ civil liberties—by seeking an injunction to effectively ban expressions of Palestine solidarity both on and off campus until 2030—represented the broadest restriction on university protests to date. Since October 2023, we have witnessed ongoing attempts to undermine students’ right to protest and to challenge their institutions’ complicity in violations of international law and genocide. It is our responsibility to fight this wider pattern of repression against our movement, on university campuses or otherwise, and against our civil liberties in the legal terrain.” 

Ruth Ehrlich, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Liberty, said: “In an increasingly hostile space for protest rights, civil injunctions are being used by universities around the country to limit the way anyone can make their voices heard on campus. Students have long been at the forefront of movements for social change. Liberty will continue to defend their right to protest.”  

A UCU spokesperson stated: “The failure of Cambridge’s bid at the High Court to repress pro-Palestine protests for five years is an important victory for our democratic rights. Universities should be promoting our basic freedoms, not attempting to crush them. We now urge Cambridge’s Vice Chancellor to drop these cack-handed attempts at criminalising peaceful protest altogether.”  

Ben Jamal, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Director, said: “This is an important victory for freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, both of which should be cornerstones of university life. The University of Cambridge tried to single out Palestinian staff and students and those speaking up for international law, and subject them to draconian restrictions not applied to protestors on any other issue. This decision should mark a watershed in defence of freedom of expression and the right to protest.”   

Categories
Case Update Press Release

Attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’. Hearing at the Tiergarten District Court suspiciously postponed  

On Monday, 27 January 2025, another case in the attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’ should have been heard at the Tiergarten District Court. The Berlin public prosecutor had opened an investigation against filmmaker Dror Dayan for the use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations (§ 86a StGB), pressing charges. The case concerns a Twitter comment from November 2023, in which Dror Dayan denounced the criminalisation of the slogan in Germany.  

However, the judge postponed the ruling on spurious grounds, citing that an expert witness could not attend the trial for health reasons. The witness in question is a police officer in the Berlin State Criminal Police who had previously written and submitted an extensive report to clarify whether the slogan “Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea” constitutes a symbol of Hamas.  

Importantly, the expert noted that the attempt to establish the use of the slogan as Hamas praxis would be reductive, highlighting that is had been used by a large political spectrum for many decades.  Moreover, after reviewing a sizeable number of Hamas publications, including those dating back to 1988, the year of the group’s founding, the expert did not find a single publication which featured the slogan and thus concluded that there was no compelling evidence to claim that the slogan constituted a Hamas symbol.  

Nadija Samour, Senior Legal Officer at the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) representing the defendant comments: “This is highly suspicious. The expert had already delivered their report to the judge in a written form. The judge could have ruled that day. We suspect that the judge artificially prolonged the trial for political reasons, probably fearing repercussions. A ruling in our favour would constitute a legal precedent for other ongoing trials regarding the attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘Palestine will be free from the river to the sea’. The judges seem avoidant to take a clear stance even though the police itself came to a clear conclusion.’’ 

Earlier, German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann had declared that expressing the slogan constituted a crime. This came right after the administrative court Bremen had ruled it was lawful. This must be considered an interference of the government in the judiciary. The tweet was widely understood as a warning and criticism of the court’s judgment. 

Not isolated cases: Germany’s systematic repression of Palestine solidarity 

There are currently dozens of ongoing cases concerning the slogan “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea’’, many of which have been artificially prolonged in similar ways. Furthermore, expressions of the slogan, are currently variously charged as three separate criminal offences, including as ‘incitement to hatred’ (§ 130 StGB), ‘displaying symbols of unconstitutional organisations’ (§ 86a StGB) or ‘endorsement of criminal acts’ (§ 140 StGB). This indicates that German authorities are politically motivated to criminalise the expression of the slogan, even if it does not clearly and conclusively meet any criminal offence defined in the German criminal code.   

These are not isolated cases. German authorities have only been expanding their alarmingly violent measures to suppress the Palestine solidarity movement. The German Federal Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser, for instance, declared the slogan illegal. 

In May 2024, the German Federal Ministry of Justice reiterated Nancy Faeser’s decree and declared the slogan to be a “Hamas slogan’’ and therefore punishable. Merely days after this declaration, the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia banned the Palestine Solidarity Duisburg group over alleged support for Hamas for the group’s use of the slogan. This resulted in several raids targeting the homes of the activists in May 2024.  

While much of the repression against the Palestine solidarity movement is issued at the German Federal level, the ruling Government of Germany’s capital, Berlin, has been particularly eager to press for even more authoritarian measures.  For instance, the push to remove students from universities in Berlin, specifically in relation to Palestine solidarity on campus, should be of utmost concern as it effectively denies the right to education based on political beliefs.  

Nevertheless, attempts to criminalise the slogan have been successfully pushed back against in German courts. In June 2024, a court in Munich reaffirmed the right to express the slogan ‘From the River to the Sea’ at demonstrations. 

The association Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost e.V. had called for a rally in front of the courthouse to protest the trial and oppose German complicity in Israel’s genocidal campaign in Palestine.  

Deutsch:

Versuchte Kriminalisierung des Slogans ‘Palästina wird frei sein, vom Fluss bis zum Meer’ Anhörung vor dem Amtsgericht Tiergarten verdächtig verschoben  

Am Montag, den 27. Januar 2025, sollte vor dem Amtsgericht Tiergarten ein weiterer Fall der versuchten Kriminalisierung des Slogans „Palästina wird frei sein, vom Fluss bis zum Meer“ verhandelt werden. Die Berliner Staatsanwaltschaft hatte ein Ermittlungsverfahren gegen den Filmemacher Dror Dayan wegen Verwendung von Kennzeichen verfassungswidriger und terroristischer Organisationen (§ 86a StGB) eingeleitet und Anklage erhoben. Der Prozess dreht sich um einen Twitter-Kommentar vom November 2023, in dem Dror Dayan die Kriminalisierung des Slogans in Deutschland anprangerte. Die Richterin vertagte die Entscheidung jedoch mit fadenscheinigen Begründungen, da angeblich eine Sachverständige aus gesundheitlichen Gründen nicht an der Verhandlung teilnehmen könne. 

Bei der besagten Zeugin handelt es sich um eine Polizeibeamtin des Landeskriminalamts Berlin, die zuvor einen ausführlichen Bericht verfasst und vorgelegt hatte. Dieser sollte klären, ob der Slogan „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“ ein Symbol der Hamas darstellt.  

Insbesondere merkte die Gutachterin an, es sei eine unzulässige Verkürzung, den Slogan als Hamas-Symbol zu werten, da er seit vielen Jahrzehnten von einem breiten politischen Spektrum verwendet werde. Nach Durchsicht einer beträchtlichen Anzahl von Hamas-Publikationen, die bis ins Gründungsjahr 1988 zurückreichen, fand die Gutachterin zudem keine einzige Veröffentlichung, in der der Slogan vorkam. Sie kam daher zu dem Schluss, dass es keine überzeugenden Belege dafür gibt, den Slogan als Hamas-Symbol einzuordnen.  

Nadija Samour, Senior Legal Officer beim European Legal Support Center (ELSC), die den Angeklagten vertritt, kommentiert: „Das Ganze ist höchst suspekt. Die Sachverständige hatte dem Gericht ihren Bericht bereits in schriftlicher Form vorgelegt. Die Richterin hätte an diesem Tag urteilen können. Wir vermuten, dass die Richterin das Verfahren aus politischen Gründen künstlich in die Länge zieht, wahrscheinlich aus Angst vor Konsequenzen. Ein Urteil zu unseren Gunsten würde einen Präzedenzfall für andere laufende Verfahren zur versuchten Kriminalisierung des Slogans „Palestine will be free from the river to the sea“ schaffen. Die Gerichte scheinen eine Entscheidung zu vermeiden, obwohl sogar die Polizei selbst zu einem eindeutigen Schluss gekommen ist.“  

Zuvor hatte der deutsche Justizminister Marco Buschmann erklärt, dass die Äußerung des Slogans eine Straftat darstelle. Dies geschah unmittelbar nachdem das Verwaltungsgericht Bremen entschieden hatte, dass die Verwendung des Slogans rechtmäßig sei. Dies muss als Eingriff der Regierung in die Justiz angesehen werden. Der Tweet wurde weithin als Warnung und Kritik am Urteil des Gerichts verstanden.  

Keine Einzelfälle: Deutschlands systematische Unterdrückung der Palästina-Solidarität  

Derzeit gibt es Dutzende von laufenden Verfahren wegen dem Slogan „Palestine will be free from the river to the sea“, von denen viele auf ähnliche Weise unnötig in die Länge gezogen werden. Darüber hinaus werden Äußerungen des Slogans derzeit auf dreierlei Weise als Straftatbestände verfolgt, darunter als Volksverhetzung (Paragraf 130 StGB), als Verwenden von Kennzeichen verfassungswidriger Organisationen (Paragraf 86a StGB) oder als Billigung von Straftaten (Paragraf 140 StGB). Dies deutet darauf hin, dass die deutschen Behörden politisch motiviert sind, die Äußerung des Slogans zu kriminalisieren, auch wenn er eindeutig und abschließend keiner im deutschen Strafgesetzbuch definierten Straftat entspricht.  

Dies sind keine Einzelfälle. Die deutschen Behörden haben ihre alarmierend gewalttätigen Maßnahmen zur Unterdrückung der Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung nur ausgeweitet. So erklärte die deutsche Bundesinnenministerin Nancy Faeser den Slogan für illegal. 

Im Mai 2024 bekräftigte das Bundesjustizministerium Nancy Faesers Erlass und erklärte den Slogan zu einem „Hamas-Slogan“ und damit für strafbar. Nur wenige Tage nach dieser Erklärung verbot das Bundesland Nordrhein-Westfalen die Gruppe „Palästina Solidarität Duisburg“ wegen angeblicher Hamas-Unterstützung, weil die Gruppe den Slogan verwendet hatte. Dies führte im Mai 2024 zu mehreren Razzien in den Wohnungen der Aktivist*innen.  

Während ein Großteil der repressiven Maßnahmen gegen die Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung auf Bundesebene erlassen wird, ist die Regierung der Hauptstadt Berlin besonders darauf erpicht, auf noch autoritärere Maßnahmen zu drängen. So sollte beispielsweise das Bestreben, Studierende von Berliner Universitäte im Zusammenhang mit Palästina-Solidarität auf dem Campus zu exmatrikulieren, Anlass zu größter Sorge geben. Denn damit würde das Recht auf Bildung aufgrund politischer Überzeugungen verwehrt. 

Dennoch wurden Bestrebungen, den Slogan zu kriminalisieren, erfolgreich vor deutschen Gerichten abgewehrt. Im Juni 2024 bestätigte ein Gericht in München erneut das Recht, den Slogan „from the river to the sea“ bei Demonstrationen zu verwenden.  

Der Verein Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost e.V. hatte zu einer Kundgebung vor dem Gerichtsgebäude aufgerufen, um gegen den Prozess und die deutsche Mitschuld an Israels Völkermordkampagne in Palästina zu protestieren. 

محاولة تجريم شعار “فلسطين ستكون حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر”: تأجيل محكمة منطقة تيرغارتن الألمانيّة لجلسة الاستماع للقضيّة في ظروف مريبة ومثيرة للشكّ. 

بتاريخ 27 جانفي/يناير، كان من المتوقّع أن تبتّ محكمة منطقة تيرغارتن الألمانيّة في جلسة قضيّة أخرى متعلّقة بمحاولة تجريم شعار “فلسطين ستكون حرة من النهر إلى البحر”. للتّذكير، فتحت النّيابة العامّة في برلين تحقيقًا ضدّ المخرج السّينمائيّ درور ديان ووجّهت له اتّهامات على خلفيّة استخدامه لرموز منظّماتٍ تُعتبرُ إرهابيّة ومخالفة للدّستور (المادّة 86 أ من القانون الجنائيّ الألمانيّ). تتعلّق القضيّة بتغريدةٍ نشرها درور ديان على تويتر في شهر نوفمبر/تشرين الثّاني 2023 للتّنديد بالتّجريم الذّي يستهدفُ هذا الشّعار في ألمانيا. بيْدَ أنّ القاضي أجّلَ النّظر في القضيّة متعلّلاً بأسباب غير شرعيّة، ألا وهي عدم قدرة شاهدٍ خبيرٍ على حضور جلسة المحاكمة لأسباب صحيّة. في هذه القضيّة، الشّاهد الخبير هو ضابط شرطة ينتمي إلى فرقة شرطة ولاية برلين، وهو نفس الشّخص الذّي حرّر وقدّم تقريرًا مفصّلاً للعدالة للتّقصّي فيما إذا كان شعار “فلسطين ستكون حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر” يمثّلُ رمزًا من رموز حركة حماس. 

من المهمّ التّذكير بأنّ الشّرطيّ الخبير قد أشار إلى أنّه لا يجدر بنا قوقعة هذا الشّعار في شكل رمز من رموز حماس واعتباره مجرّد شعار لهذه الحركة، فقد شدّد هذا الأخير على أنّ مختلف الحركات السّياسيّة استخدمت هذا الشّعار خلال عقودٍ من الزّمن. علاوةً على ذلك، بعد الاطّلاع على العديد من منشورات حماس، بما في ذلك تلك التّي نُشرت في عام 1988، أيْ السّنة التّي رأت فيها الحركة النّور، لم يجدْ الخبير أيّ منشور كان يتضمّنُ أو يشيرُ إلى الشّعار المعنيّ. بالتّالي، يُبيّنُ استنتاج الخبير غيابَ أيّ دليل مقنعٍ وقاطعٍ لتحجّج بأنّ الشّعار يمثّلُ رمزًا من رموز حماس. 

نادية سمور، مسؤولة عن الاستشارة القانونيّة في المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC)، وممثّلة المدّعي عليه: “هذا الأمر مريبٌ للغاية. فقد سبقَ أن سلّم الخبير نسخة تقريره المكتوبة إلى القاضي الذّي كان بإمكانه إصدار حكم في ذلك اليوم. لذا، فنحن نشكّكُ في مصداقيّة سبب التّأجيل ونعتقد أنّ القاضي قام بتأجيل المحاكمة بشكل متصنّع لأسباب سياسيّة، ربّما خوفًا من العواقب. بعبارة أخرى، قد يمثّلُ الحكم لصالحنا سابقةً من نوعها في السّاحة القانونيّة، فيؤثّرُ بذلك على مجرى قضايا حاليّة أخرى تتعلّق بمحاولة تجريم شعار “فلسطين ستكون حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر”. يبدو أنّ القضاة يتجنّبون اتّخاذ مواقف واضحة وقرارات صارمة على الرّغم من أنّ الشّرطة بحدّ ذاتها قد توصّلت إلى استنتاج واضح.” 

في وقت سابق، أعلن وزير العدل الألمانيّ، ماركو بوشمان، أنّ استخدام هذا الشّعار للتّعبير عن التّضامن مع فلسطين يعتبرُ جريمة. جاء هذا الإعلان مباشرةً بعد أن أصدرت المحكمة الإداريّة في بريمن حكمًا ينصّ على أنّ هذا الأمر قانونيّ. بالتّالي، يُعتبرُ هذا الأمر تدخّلاً مباشرا في نطاق صلاحيّات السّلطة القضائيّة. 

هذه القضايا ليست مجرّد قضايا معزولة: القمع المنهجيّ الذّي تمارسه ألمانيا ضدّ أيّ شكل من أشكال التّضامن مع فلسطين 

في الوقت الرّاهن، هناك عشرات من القضايا الجارية المتعلّقة بشعار “فلسطين ستكون حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر” التّي تمّ تأجيلها لتمديد تاريخ الحكم بشكل مفتعل من خلال تطبيق طرق واستراتيجيّات مماثلة. علاوةً على ذلك، يتمُّ تجريم استخدام هذا الشّعار اعتمادًا على اتّهامات تُصنّفُ وفق ثلاثة أنواع من الجرائم الجنائيّة التّي لا تتعلّق ببعضها البعض، بعبارة أخرى “التّحريض على الكراهيّة” (المادّة 130 من القانون الجنائيّ الألمانيّ)، “عرض رموز منظّمات غير دستوريّة” (المادّة 86 أ من القانون الجنائيّ الألمانيّ)، أو “تأييد أعمال إجراميّة” (المادّة 140 من القانون الجنائيّ الألمانيّ)، ممّا يعكسُ توجّه السّلطات الألمانيّة، أيْ دوافعها السّياسيّة الهادفة إلى تجريم استخدام الشّعار والتّعبير عن مضمونه الذّي لا يُمثّلُ بأيّ طريقة كانت وبشكل واضح وقطعيّ جريمةً جنائيّة بموجب القانون الجنائيّ الألمانيّ. في الواقع، لا تُعتبرُ هذه القضايا مجرّد حالات معزولة، فهي مرآة تعكسُ مدى انتشار الإجراءات العنيفة والقهريّة والمثيرة للقلق التّي تلجأ لها السّلطات الألمانيّة لقمع حركة التّضامن مع فلسطين. في هذا السّياق مثلاً، أعلنت وزيرة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة، نانسي فايسر، أنّ هذا الشّعار غير قانونيّ. 

في شهر ماي/مايو 2024، تبنّت وزارة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة مرسومَ نانسي فايسر وأعلنت أنّ الشّعار يُعتبرُ من “شعارات حركة حماس” وبالتّالي يُعاقبُ عليه بموجب القانون. بعد أيّام قليلة من هذا الإعلان، قامت ولاية شمال الرّاين وستفاليا بحظر كيان مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ وأنشطتها بسبب دعمها المزعوم لحماس على خلفيّة استخدام هذه المجموعة المعنيّة للشّعار، ممّا أدّى إلى العديد من المداهمات التّي استهدفت منازل النّشطاء والنّاشطات في ماي/مايو 2024. 

حتّى وإن كانت معظم الإجراءات القمعيّة المستهدفة لحركة التّضامن مع فلسطين إجراءات تتّخذها الحكومة الألمانيّة، أي على المستوى الوطنيّ، من الجدير بالذّكر أنّ مكتب الحكومة في العاصمة برلين كان حريصًا كلّ الحرص على تعزيز الضّغط من خلال اللّجوء إلى تدابير وإجراءات كانت ذات صبغة أكثر استبداديّة. على سبيل المثال، يُعتبرُ السّعي إلى إبعاد الطّلاب من الجامعات في برلين، على وجه الخصوص في إطار التّعبير عن التّضامن مع فلسطين في حرم الجامعات، أمرًا مثيرًا للقلق بشكل هامّ، فهو إجراء يغتصبُ الحقّ في التّعليم على أساس المعتقدات السّياسيّة الفرديّة. 

غير أنّ محاولات تجريم الشّعار فشلت فشلاً ذريعًا في المحاكم الألمانيّة. في شهر جوان/يونيو 2024، أكّدت محكمة في مونيخ مجدّدًا على شرعيّة الحقّ في التّعبير عن التّضامن مع فلسطين في المظاهرات عبر شعار “من النّهر إلى البحر”. 

دعت جمعيّة Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost e.V.  إلى تنظيم مظاهرة أمام المحكمة احتجاجًا على المحاكمة وللتّعبير عن معارضتها لتواطؤ ألمانيا المساندة لحملة الإبادة الجماعيّة التّي تشنّها إسرائيل على فلسطين

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Press Release

Dutch Labour Court confirms: Firing of Palestinian employee by Dutch company over solidarity with Palestinian resistance was discriminatory, large compensation is due 

This press release is available in English, Dutch, and Arabic. Scroll down for different language versions.


AMSTERDAM, 12 FEBRUARY 2025 – Palestinian employee Nouraldin Alsweirki has won a landmark legal victory over his former employer, Dutch software company Speakap B.V., which fired him in October 2023 over LinkedIn posts in which he supported the right of the Palestinian people to resist the Israeli occupation. This dismissal had significant consequences not only for Nouraldin but also for his family in Gaza. The Court of Amsterdam affirmed on 1 November 2024 that Speakap had discriminated against Nouraldin based on his political beliefs and ordered the company to pay a significant amount of compensation to him. Now, three months later, Speakap has officially let the deadline to appeal the Court’s decision expire, making the judgement final. 

On 30 August 2023, Nouraldin, who is from Gaza and lived as a refugee in Turkey at the time, signed an employment contract with Speakap accepting the role of Frontend Engineer. In the days following 7 October 2023, he wrote many LinkedIn posts expressing his support for the right of the Palestinian people to resist the Israeli occupation. At that time, several of his relatives and friends were killed in Gaza by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). On 17 October 2023, Speakap informed Nouraldin that he had been dismissed on the ground that some colleagues would experience discomfort at his “strong personal opinions”. Earlier, the company had asked Nouraldin whether he would be willing to remove his LinkedIn contributions whenever requested, which he agreed to comply with. 

Significant consequences 

The decision meant that Nouraldin’s visa and residence permit were no longer valid to travel to the Netherlands. Having already given up his place and belongings in Turkey, Nouraldin was forced to apply for asylum in the Netherlands. As a result, with its decision Speakap had ensured that the evacuation of Nouraldin’s wife and family from the Israeli genocidal onslaught on Gaza was made impossible since a person who has applied for asylum cannot apply for family reunification until they have their residency permit in the Netherlands. 

No impunity for employers like Speakap 

Nouraldin decided to fight back. He contacted the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), and through the lawyer Seyma Arikan from Spuistraat 10 Advocaten he filed a claim for unlawful dismissal. Following the decision issued by the Dutch Human Rights Board (College voor de Rechten van de Mens) in June 2024, the Court of Amsterdam in November 2024 ruled that Speakap had discriminated against Nouraldin on the basis of his political beliefs. This is unlawful under Article 7:681 of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek) and under the Equal Treatment Act (Algemene wet gelijke behandeling). The Court ordered Speakap to pay Nouraldin a significant compensation not only for unlawful dismissal but also for emotional harm inflicted. 

A landmark legal victory 

The Court’s judgement demonstrates that expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and criticism of Israel, including speaking out for the right of the Palestinian people to resist occupation also through armed struggle, are protected political beliefs on the basis of which you cannot be discriminated against according to Dutch anti-discrimination law. Resisting the Israeli colonial occupation that has been committing crimes against humanity since at least 1948, the right of the Palestinian people to armed struggle is enshrined in international law in Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and reinforced in UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions such as 37/43 from 1982. 

This legal victory arrives at a critical moment in the Dutch context, amidst growing anti-Palestinian repression and a racist Dutch government increasingly attacking fundamental rights. The ELSC has observed a rise in workplace censorship, including in the Netherlands, where employees expressing solidarity with Palestine face intensified silencing. Although generally lacking any legal grounds, (the mere threat of) disciplinary investigation, dismissal, online surveillance, and harassment can create a chilling effect deterring workers from expressing solidarity with Palestine and standing up against the grave human rights violations in which employers may even be complicit. Often these cases go unrecorded as workers are worried about their employment. This legal victory, however, demonstrates that there can no longer be impunity for employers that repress anti-genocide, anti-apartheid, and anti-colonial voices – and the ELSC encourages employees to speak out, to keep records of the repression by an employer wherever it occurs, and to reach out to the ELSC for legal support or advice. 

Nouraldin Alsweirki commented: “Genocide is highly radioactive; no distance keeps you safe from it. People should never feel safe to commit or enable crimes as that creates a very dark and despicable world for all of us, a world where your same justifications to shed blood will be reused to shed yours and other innocent’s. Everybody has a duty to oppose genocide.” 

Juul Seesing, from the ELSC, said: “Speakap is an employer like so many in the Netherlands; their business-as-usual will not be inconvenienced by people speaking out against a genocidal occupation. According to companies like Speakap, Palestinians are supposed to do their jobs silently amidst an ongoing genocide against their people because it might make a privileged person or two ‘uncomfortable’. Let this case be a message to all employers complicit in repressing dissent and discriminating against people experiencing and opposing genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism; your time of impunity is over.” 

Lawyer Seyma Arikan, from Spuistraat 10 Advocaten, concluded: “First the verdict of the Human Rights Board and now the ruling of the Court emphasise that dismissal on the basis of one’s political views is unlawful, obviously also when those views oppose the Israeli apartheid regime. These rulings respect the constitutional right to equal treatment and underscore the prohibition of discrimination based on political beliefs.” 

Dutch

Rechter bevestigt: Ontslag Palestijnse werknemer door Nederlands bedrijf wegens solidariteit met Palestijns verzet was discriminatie, hoge vergoeding verschuldigd 

AMSTERDAM, 12 FEBRUARI 2025 – De Palestijnse werknemer Nouraldin Alsweirki heeft een historische juridische overwinning behaald op zijn voormalige werkgever, het Nederlandse softwarebedrijf Speakap B.V., dat hem in oktober 2023 ontsloeg vanwege LinkedIn-posts waarin hij zijn solidariteit toonde met het recht van het Palestijnse volk op verzet tegen de Israëlische bezetting. Dit ontslag had niet alleen grote gevolgen voor Nouraldin, maar ook voor zijn familie in Gaza. De rechtbank van Amsterdam oordeelde op 1 november 2024 dat Speakap Nouraldin gediscrimineerd had op basis van zijn politieke overtuiging en veroordeelde het bedrijf tot het betalen van een aanzienlijke vergoeding aan hem. Nu, drie maanden later, heeft Speakap de termijn om in beroep te gaan tegen de uitspraak officieel laten verstrijken, waardoor de uitspraak definitief is. 

Op 30 augustus 2023 tekent Nouraldin, afkomstig uit Gaza en op dat moment als vluchteling woonachtig in Turkije, een contract bij Speakap voor de functie van Frontend Engineer. In de dagen na 7 oktober 2023 schrijft hij verschillende LinkedIn-posts waarin hij zijn steun uitspreekt voor het recht van het Palestijnse volk om zich te verzetten tegen de Israëlische bezetting. In deze periode vermoordt het Israëlische bezettingsleger verschillende familieleden en vrienden van hem in Gaza. Op 17 oktober 2023 deelt Speakap Nouraldin mee dat hij is ontslagen omdat sommige collega’s zich ongemakkelijk zouden voelen bij zijn “sterke persoonlijke meningen”. Eerder had het bedrijf Nouraldin gevraagd of hij bereid zou zijn om zijn LinkedIn-posts te verwijderen wanneer dit verzocht zou worden, waar hij mee instemde. 

Ingrijpende gevolgen 

De beslissing van Speakap betekent dat Nouraldins visum en verblijfsvergunning niet langer geldig zijn om naar Nederland te reizen. Nouraldin, die zijn woonplek en bezittingen in Turkije al heeft opgegeven, is genoodzaakt om asiel aan te vragen in Nederland. Hiermee is de evacuatie van Nouraldins vrouw en familie uit de Israëlische genocidale aanval op Gaza onmogelijk gemaakt aangezien een persoon die asiel heeft aangevraagd in Nederland geen gezinshereniging kan aanvragen totdat die diens verblijfsvergunning heeft. 

Geen straffeloosheid voor werkgevers zoals Speakap 

Nouraldin besluit terug te vechten. Hij neemt contact op met het European Legal Support Center (ELSC) en via advocaat Seyma Arikan van Spuistraat 10 Advocaten spant hij een zaak aan wegens onrechtmatig ontslag. In navolging van de uitspraak van het College voor de Rechten van de Mens in juni 2024 oordeelt ook de rechtbank van Amsterdam in november 2024 dat Speakap Nouraldin gediscrimineerd heeft op grond van zijn politieke overtuiging. Dit is onrechtmatig op grond van Artikel 7:681 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek en op grond van de Algemene wet gelijke behandeling. Speakap is gedwongen om Nouraldin een aanzienlijke schadevergoeding te betalen voor naast onrechtmatig ontslag ook voor geleden emotionele schade. 

Een historische juridische overwinning 

De uitspraak van de rechter toont aan dat het uiten van solidariteit met het Palestijnse volk en kritiek op Israël, inclusief het uitspreken voor het recht van het Palestijnse volk op verzet tegen de Israëlische bezetting ook door middel van gewapend verzet, beschermde politieke overtuigingen zijn op basis waarvan je niet gediscrimineerd mag worden onder de Nederlandse wet. Bovendien is het recht van het Palestijnse volk op gewapend  

verzet tegen de Israëlische koloniale bezetting die misdaden tegen de mensheid pleegt sinds ten minste 1948 vastgelegd in het internationaal recht in Aanvullend Protocol I bij de Verdragen van Genève van 1949, verder gespecificeerd in resoluties van de Algemene Vergadering van de Verenigde Naties zoals 37/43 uit 1982. 

Deze juridische overwinning komt op een kritiek moment in de Nederlandse context, te midden van toenemende anti-Palestijnse repressie en een racistische Nederlandse regering die in toenemende mate fundamentele rechten aanvalt. Het ELSC signaleert een toename van censuur op de werkplek, ook in Nederland, waar werknemers die hun solidariteit met Palestina betuigen steeds meer het zwijgen worden opgelegd. Hoewel er over het algemeen geen wettelijke gronden voor zijn, kan (de dreiging van) disciplinair onderzoek, ontslag, online surveillance en intimidatie een effect hebben dat werknemers ervan weerhoudt hun solidariteit met Palestina te betuigen en op te staan tegen de ernstige mensenrechtenschendingen waaraan werkgevers in sommige gevallen zelfs medeplichtig zijn. Vaak worden deze zaken niet geregistreerd omdat werknemers zich zorgen maken over hun baan(kansen). Deze juridische overwinning laat echter zien dat werkgevers die anti-genocide, anti-apartheid en anti-koloniale stemmen onderdrukken niet langer ongestraft kunnen blijven – en het ELSC moedigt werknemers aan om zich uit te spreken, administratie bij te houden van repressie van een werkgever mocht dit gebeuren en contact op te nemen met het ELSC voor juridische ondersteuning of advies. 

Nouraldin Alsweirki: “Genocide is zeer radioactief waar geen enkele afstand je veilig van houdt. Mensen moeten zich nooit veilig voelen om misdaden te plegen of mogelijk te maken, want dat creëert een zeer donkere en verachtelijke wereld voor ons allemaal, een wereld waarin dezelfde rechtvaardigingen om bloed te vergieten opnieuw zullen worden gebruikt om bloed van jou en andere onschuldigen te vergieten. Iedereen heeft de plicht om zich te verzetten tegen genocide.” 

Juul Seesing van het ELSC zegt: “Speakap is een werkgever zoals zovelen in Nederland; hun business-as-usual moet en zal geen hinder ondervinden van mensen die zich uitspreken tegen een genocidale bezetting. Bedrijven zoals Speakap vinden dat Palestijnen hun werk in stilte moeten doen te midden van een voortdurende genocide op hun volk omdat anders een geprivilegieerd persoon of twee zich ‘ongemakkelijk’ kan voelen. Laat deze overwinning een boodschap zijn aan alle werkgevers die besluiten werknemers die zich verzetten tegen genocide, apartheid en kolonialisme te onderdrukken en/of te discrimineren: jullie tijd van straffeloosheid is voorbij.” 

Advocaat Seyma Arikan van Spuistraat 10 Advocaten concludeert: “Eerst het oordeel van het College en nu de uitspraak van de Rechtbank benadrukken dat ontslag op basis van iemands politieke opvattingen onrechtmatig is, natuurlijk óók wanneer die opvattingen zich verzetten tegen het Israëlische apartheidsregime. Met deze uitspraken wordt het grondwettelijke recht op gelijke behandeling gerespecteerd en wordt het verbod op onderscheid op grond van politieke gezindheid onderstreept.” 

Arabic

قرار محكمة العمل الهولنديّة: 

 يُعتبرُ طرد موظّف فلسطينيّ من قبل شركة هولنديّة على خلفيّة تضامنه مع المقاومة الفلسطينية ممارسة ذات صبغة تمييزيّة وسيحظى هذا الأخير بتعويضٍ ماليّ هامّ لجبر الضّرر 

مؤرّخ في 12 فبراير/شبّاط 2025، مدينة أمستردام  

في سابقة من نوعها، ربحَ نور الدّين السويركي قضيّةً عدليّةً تمثّلُ نقطة تحوّل وعلامة مرجعيّة في السّاحة القضائيّة، وهي دعوى رفعها نور الدّين ضدّ مُشغّله السّابق، شركة البرمجيات الهولنديّة Speakap B.V، التّي طردتهُ من عمله، في شهر أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل 2023، على خلفيّة منشورات شاركها على منصّة لينكدن يُعبّرُ من خلالها على مناصرته لحقّ الشّعب الفلسطينيّ، أيْ شعبه، في مقاومة الاحتلال الاستيطانيّ الصّهيونيّ. كان لهذا الطّرد نتائج وخيمة على نور الدّين وعلى عائلته في غزّة. ولكن في غرّة نوفمبر/تشرين الثّاني، أكّدت محكمة أمستردام ما يلي: نور الدّين كان ضحيّة للتّمييز الذّي مارسته شركة Speakap ضدّهُ بناءً على معتقداته السّياسيّة وأمرت المحكمة بدفع مبلغ ماليّ كتعويض للضّرر. الآن، وبعد مرور ثلاثة أشهر من الحكم، بلغت شركة Speakap تاريخ انتهاء المهلة المحدّدة للطّعن في قرار المحكمة، ممّا يجعلُ الحكم نهائيًّا بشكل رسميّ. 

 
في 30 أغسطس/أوت 2023، وقّع نور الدّين، أصيل قطاع غزّة والذّي كان يعيش في تركيا في ذلك الوقت، عقْدَ عملٍ مع شركة Speakap ليشغل منصب مهندس الواجهة الأماميّة لتطوير الويب. خلال الفترة التّي تلت تاريخ 7 أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل 2023، دوّنَ نور الدّين عددًا من المنشورات على منصّة لينكدن يُعبّرُ فيها عن مناصرته لحقّ الشّعب الفلسطينيّ في مقاومة الاحتلال الاستيطانيّ الصّهيونيّ. وكان ذلك في ذات الفترة التي استشهد فيها الكثير من أقاربه وأصدقائه في غزّة على يد قوّات الاحتلال الإسرائيليّة. في يوم 17 من نفس الشّهر، أعلمتهُ شركة Speakap بقرار طردها له على خلفيّة احتمال شعور البعض من زملائه وزميلاته بعدم الارتياح والانزعاج بسبب “آرائه الشّخصيّة المتطرّفة” على حدّ وصفهم. من الجدير بالذّكر أنّ الشّركة طلبت من نور الدّين في وقت سابق ما إذا كان على استعداد لإزالة منشوراته على لينكدن عندما يُطلبُ منه ذلك، وقد وافق على الامتثال لذلك. 

نتائج وخيمة 

قرار الطّرد هذا يعني أنّ تأشيرة سفر نور الدّين وتصريح إقامته لم تعُدْ صالحةً للسّفر إلى هولندا والبقاء فيها. نظرًا لترك نور الدّين مكان إقامته وممتلكاته في تركيا، أٌجبرَ هذا الأخير على تقديم طلب لجوءٍ في هولندا. كنتيجة لذلك، وبسبب قرار شركة Speakap، أصبح من المستحيل إجلاء زوجته وعائلته من مخالب هجوم الإبادة الإسرائيليّ التّي كانت غزّة ضحيّته: ففي هذه الحالة، الشّخص المتقدّمُ بطلب لجوء لا يمكنه قانونيًّا تقديم طلب لِلمِّ شمل العائلة إلى أنّ يتحصّل على تصريح إقامة يسمح له بالعيش في هولندا. 

من الآن فصاعدًا لن يُفلت المُشغلّون والشّركات مثل Speakap من العقاب 

 
قرّر نور الدّين تحدّي قرار طرده، فتواصل معنا في المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC) وقام برفع دعوى قضائية على خلفيّة طردٍ غير قانونيّ بمساعدة المحامية سيماء أريكان من Spuistraat 10 Advocaten . إثر القرار الصّادر عن المجلس الهولنديّ لحقوق الإنسان في شهر جوان/يونيو 2024، أصدرت محكمة أمستردام حكمًا في شهر نوفمبر/تشرين الثّاني 2024 ينصّ على كون نور الدّين ضحيّة للتّمييز الذّي مارسته شركة Speakap ضدّه بناءً على معتقداته السّياسيّة. تُعتبرُ مثل هذه الممارسات ممارسات غير قانونيّة بموجب المادّة 7:681 من القانون المدنيّ الهولنديّ (Burgerlijk Wetboek) وبموجب قانون المساواة في المعاملة (Algemene Wet Gelijke Behandeling). كما أمرت المحكمة شركة Speakap بدفع تعويض ماليّ هامّ لجبْرِ كلٍّ من الطّرد غير القانونيّ من العمل والضّرر العاطفيّ الذّي لحقَ به كذلك.  

 
انتصار قانونيّ تاريخيّ في سابقة هي الأولى من نوعها 

 
حكمُ المحكمة دليلٌ على أنّ التّعبير عن التّضامن مع الشّعب الفلسطينيّ وانتقاد إسرائيل، بما في ذلك التّحدّث علنًا عن حقّ الشّعب الفلسطينيّ في مقاومة الاحتلال من خلال النّضال المسلّح، هي معتقدات سياسيّة محميّة لا يُمكنُ لأيّ كان استغلالها لاضطهادك بموجب قانون مناهضة التّمييز الهولنديّ. بعبارة أخرى، يُعتبرُ حقّ الشّعب الفلسطينيّ في النّضال المسلّح وفي مقاومة الاحتلال الاستيطانيّ الإسرائيليّ، الذّي ما فتئ يرتكب جرائمًا ضدّ الإنسانيّة منذ عام 1948 على الأقّل، حقًّا مقدّسًا ينصّ عليه القانون الدّوليّ في البروتوكول الإضافيّ الأوّل لاتّفاقيّة جنيف لعام 1949، وهو حقّ تمّ ترسيخه في القرارات الصّادرة عن الجمعيّة العامّة للأمم المتّحدّة (UNGA)، نذكرُ على سبيل المثال القرار رقم 37/43 لعام 1982. 

يتصادفُ هذا الانتصار القانونيّ مع وقت حرج تعيشهُ هولندا، أي القمع المتزايد ضدّ الفلسطينيّين والفلسطينيّات وممارسات الحكومة الهولنديّة العنصريّة التّي ما انفكّت تصعّدُ هجماتها التّي تستهدفُ حقوق الإنسان الأساسيّة. لقد لاحظ المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC) ارتفاع نسبة الرّقابة في أماكن العمل، بما في ذلك في هولندا، حيث يواجه الموظّفون والموظّفات الذّي يعبّرون عن تضامنهم مع فلسطين إخمادًا وإسكاتًا حادًّا لأصواتهم. عمومًا، رغم أنّ هذه الحالات تفتقرُ لأيّ أساس قانونيّ بنّاءٍ، فإنّ (مجرّد التّهديد بـ) إجراءات التّحقيق التّأديبيّ، الطّرد من العمل، المراقبة على الإنترنت، والمضايقة يمكنُ أن تخلق بيئة مرهبةً تردعُ العمّال عن التّعبير عن تضامنهم مع فلسطين والصّمود أمام أيّ شكل من أشكال الانتهاكات الجسيمة لحقوق الإنسان التّي قد يكون أرباب العمل متواطئين فيها. في غالب الأحيان، تمرّ هذه الحالات مرور الكرام بسبب خوف العمّال من فقدان عملهم. بَيْدَ أنّ هذا الانتصار القانونيّ يُبيّنُ بكلّ وضوح أنّهُ، من الآن فصاعدًا، لن يستطيع المُشغّلون الإفلات من العقاب في حالة قمعهم للأصوات التّي تعلُو لمناهضة الإبادة الجماعيّة ومناهضة الفصل العنصريّ ومناهضة الاستعمار كذلك. وبناءً عليه، يُشجّعُ المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC) كلّ التّشجيع الموظّفين والموظّفات لإعلاء أصواتهم، تسجيل وتوثيق الممارسات القمعيّة التّي يرتكبها المُشغّلون أينما حدثت، والاتّصال بالمركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC) للحصول على الدّعم القانونيّ أو المشورة القانونيّة. 

يُعلّقُ نور الدّين السويركي قائلاً: “الإبادة الجماعيّة ذات مفعول شبيهٍ بالإشعاع الذريّ، فلا توجد مسافة أمانٍ تحميك منها. يجب علينا نفعل كلّ ما بوسعنا كي لا يشعر النّاس بحصانة تحميهم عند ارتكابهم للجرائم أو تمكينهم من ارتكابها، فهذا بحدّ ذاته يخلقُ عالمًا ظالمًا لنا جميعًا، عالم سيُلجأ فيه إلى استخدام نفس مبرّراتك لسفك دم الشّعب الفلسطينيّ لتبرير سفك دمكَ أنتَ ودماء أبرياء آخرين لاحقًا. واجب معارضة الإبادة الجماعيّة فرضٌ على كلّ فرد منّا.” 

يضيفُ جُول سيسنغ (Juul Seesing) من المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانون (ELSC): ” Speakapشركة كالعديد من الشّركات الأخرى في هولندا لن تتضرّر أعمالها التّجاريّة بسبب تحدّث النّاس عن معارضتهم للإبادة التّي تشنّها قوّات الاحتلال. تعتقدُ شركات مثل Speakap أنّهُ يجب على الفلسطينيّين والفلسطينيّات القيام بعملهم بكلّ صمت دون إحداث ضجّة بينما يعيشُ شعبهم تحت وطأة الإبادة الجماعيّة المستمرّة، لأنّ التّنديد بذلك قد “يخدشُ راحة” شخص أو شخصين من أصحاب الامتيازات، فيشعرُون “بالانزعاج”. بالتّالي، فلتكُنْ هذه القضيّة درسًا ورسالةً إلى جميع أرباب الأعمال المتواطئين العاملين على قمع المعارضة، والمرتكبين للتّمييز ضدّ الأشخاص المضطهدين والذّين يستهدفون المعارضين للإبادة الجماعيّة والفصل العنصريّ والاستعمار الاستيطانيّ: لقد دقّتْ السّاعة معلنةً عن نهاية إفلاتكم من العقاب.” 

تقول المحامية سيماء أريكان من مكتب Spuistraat 10 Advocaten خاتمةً:” يُسلّطُ كلّ من قرار مجلس حقوق الإنسان والحكم الصّادر عن المحكمة الضّوء على أنّ الطّرد على أساس الآراء السّياسيّة أمر غير قانونيّ، ومن البديهيّ أنّ هذا الأمر ينطبقُ كذلك على الآراء التّي تعارضُ نظام الفصل العنصريّ الذّي تمارسه إسرائيل. تحترمُ هذه الأحكام الحقّ في المعاملة المتساوية بموجب الدّستور وتؤكّدُ على حظر التّمييز على خلفيّة المعتقدات السّياسيّة”.  

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Press Release

Palestinian from Gaza Challenges the Netherlands at European Human Rights Court for Shielding Israeli Officials from War Crimes Accountability  

Joint Press Release 
The Hague, 7 February 2025  

On 12 February, Ismail Ziada, a Dutch-Palestinian citizen, will submit a response to the Dutch government at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), challenging the Netherlands’ decision to grant immunity to Israeli officials accused of war crimes. Ziada contends that this ruling denied his fundamental right to justice by shielding those responsible for the bombing of his family home in the Bureij refugee camp, Gaza, on 20 July 2014, killing his 70-year-old mother, three brothers, sister-in-law, and 12-year-old nephew.  

Ziada pursued a civil case in Dutch Courts because, like countless Palestinians, he and his family are barred from seeking justice in Israel due to the systematic discrimination practiced against Palestinians. His case was heard before The Hague’s District and Appeal Courts (2019–2021) and later by the Dutch Supreme Court (August 2023).  However, all three courts refused to hear the case claiming that the defendants—Benny Gantz (former Chief of Staff of the Israeli Armed Forces) and Amir Eshel (former commander of the Israeli Air Force) were entitled to absolute immunity for war crimes in civil cases. Ziada strongly rejects this claim, arguing that war criminals cannot be shielded from accountability, especially for grave violation of human rights principles and international humanitarian law. Nearly 11 years later, there has been no justice or accountability. 

Following the Dutch Supreme Court’s 2023 decision, which left him no legal recourse, Ziada had exhausted all avenues in the Dutch legal system and took his fight to the the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). In a brief presented in December 2023, he argued that the Netherlands had violated his right to access justice under the European Convention on Human Rights. In 2024, the ECtHR accepted the case and designated it as an “impact case”, recognising its far reaching legal and human rights implications. In November 2024, the Dutch government responded to Ziada’s claim, defending the grant of immunities in his case, irrespective of the nature of the crimes alleged (systematic war crimes) or the fact that there is no alternative forum for Palestinian victims to pursue justice.  

Ziada’s response to the government and final submissions before the European Court of Human Rights will be presented on 10 February 2025. On this occasion, on 12 February prominent international lawyer Helen Duffy, Ziada’s legal representative, will present the case to press and public in the Hague, outlining the legal and human rights implications of the case, and other guests will discuss the significance of the case in the context of mounting violations in Gaza today.  

In connection with this milestone, we are honored to be joined by Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, alongside leading experts in international justice and human rights advocacy, for this discussion. The event will examine the challenges faced by legal activists, the role of the Netherlands in upholding international justice, and the broader implications for accountability for international crimes committed by Israel.  We would be delighted to have you join us.

Please follow this link to sign up. 

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Press Release

Additional Evidence Filed Against Booking.com for Profiting from Illegal Settlements 

On 18 December 2024, a consortium of civil society organisations submitted new evidence to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in support of their original criminal complaint against Booking.com B.V. The complaint, filed on 8 November 2023, accuses the company of laundering profits from activities in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). With no substantive response from the Dutch authorities to date, this filing underscores how Booking.com has not only continued its operations in these settlements but has significantly expanded them. Evidence collected reveals that the number of listings in illegal settlements has risen sharply since the original complaint, particularly in East Jerusalem, where the number has risen from 13 to 39 within a year, from 9 November 2023 to 9 November 2024. 

In 2024, Israel has declared state ownership of at least 24,248 dunams (5994 acres) of West Bank land, marking the largest annual land seizure by Israel in the OPT ever recorded.1 On 25 June 2024, over 3,000 acres in the Jordan Valley were designated as state land, representing the largest single land grab in three decades.2 Between the filing of the original complaint and before the submission of the additional filing on December 18, 2024, Israeli authorities demolished 2,031 Palestinian-owned structures, including 149 inhabited residential buildings and 103 donor-funded structures, the highest numbers recorded since 2009.3 Plans for the establishment of eight new settlements in East Jerusalem with over 12,000 housing units have been advanced, reflecting an 86% increase in settlement construction approvals.4 These advancements are coupled with a 120% increase in home demolitions, which reports indicate constitute collective punishment against Palestinians.5  

In our complaint, we argue that by promoting and listing properties in illegal settlements, Booking.com directly supports the normalisation and economic sustainability of these unlawful practices. The company provides financial backing to settlers and their enterprises, furthering the displacement of Palestinians and solidifying settlement expansion. This conduct sustains Israel’s settler-colonial regime and violations of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits population transfer into occupied territories. We have substantiated our claims thoroughly. For instance, the additional evidence builds on the July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, which reaffirmed the illegality of Israeli settlements and underscored the responsibility of states to prevent economic activities that perpetuate them.  

These violations demand urgent action. Booking.com’s response to our accusations confirms the urgency for intervention. The company has stated its intent to continue operations in the settlements unless explicitly prohibit§ed by domestic laws, asserting: “[…] we will permit listings anywhere in the world unless legally prohibited by the domestic laws […].” Failure to act risks sending a dangerous signal that profiting from and laundering the proceeds of war crimes will be tolerated, undermining international legal standards and justice for affected communities. Decisive action is long overdue. 

[1] Peace Now. Settlements data: Lands. Available at: https://peacenow.org.il/en/settlements-watch/settlements-data/lands

[2] CNN (2024). ‘Israel approves largest West Bank land seizure in three decades, rights group says’, 4 July.

[3] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Breakdown of data on demolition and displacement in the West Bank. Available at: https://www.ochaopt.org/data/demolition

[4] Ir Amim (2024). East Jerusalem in the Shadow of the War: Acceleration of New Settlements Juxtaposed with a Stark Rise in Home Demolitions, April.

[5] United Nations (2024). Report of the Secretary-General A/79/347: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Occupied Syrian Golan.

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Press Release

Dutch Court Fails to Enforce State’s Obligations to Prevent Genocide and Address Ties to Illegal Occupation

Joint press release – Amsterdam, 13 December 2024

Today, the District Court of The Hague delivered its ruling in the lawsuit filed by a coalition of Palestinian and Dutch civil society organisations against the Dutch State. The case called for the enforcement of measures to align Dutch policies with international law, particularly regarding arms exports and trade relations tied to Israel’s illegal occupation and systemic violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). While the ruling was anticipated, our organisations see it as a setback for international accountability and justice.

Although the court acknowledged the Dutch State’s legal obligations under international law, including the duty to prevent genocide and protect human rights, it ultimately ruled in favour of the State. The court rejected the coalition’s request for a blanket ban on military and dual-use goods exports but emphasized the Dutch State’s continuing responsibility to assess each export license individually. This case-by-case approach underscores the State’s obligation to ensure its exports do not contribute to violations of international humanitarian law (IHL). However, the risk remains—even for defensive military equipment. Israel’s military power to carry out its actions in Gaza depends not only on offensive weapons but also on defensive systems that enable further genocidal actions as well as maintaining and entrenching its illegal occupation and apartheid regime.

Furthermore, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli perpetrators suspected of carrying out international crimes in Gaza, namely Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu and the former Minister of Defence Gallant. The Geneva Conventions and Genocide Convention, which should inform the Dutch state’s duty of care, and responsibility to prevent, were barely mentioned in the court’s ruling. The coalition finds this lack of attention to the core arguments on the legal provisions that bind the State in this case astounding. 

The court also accepted the Dutch State’s ‘discouragement policy’ in relation to the illegal Israeli settlements as adequate, without evaluating its effectiveness. Israeli settlements have been established and maintained in violation of international law, as confirmed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ has made it clear in its July 2024 advisory opinion that states, including the Netherlands, are obligated “to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” –– obligations which go beyond mere “discouragement”. However, the judge did not assess whether the discouragement policy meets the Dutch State’s obligations under international law, nor did the court consider its effectiveness in halting violations.  

International experts have made it clear that international crimes of forced displacement are ongoing, making urgent action necessary. In the first half of 2024, under the leadership of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Israel has designated more Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank as “state land” than in the previous 25 years combined. While the Dutch government frames its policy as long-term, the urgent question remains: Is it effective in addressing violations happening now? Palestinians continue to suffer from an ongoing, deepening Nakba, with genocide occurring in Gaza and settler colonisation intensifying in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, it is clear that the current policy needs to be reassessed.

Lastly, the Dutch state claims it is unlikely to grant arms licenses for weapons that can contribute to Israeli military or settler activities in Gaza or the West Bank, including Jerusalem, due to the clear risk that weapons, in the current context, contribute to grave violations under international humanitarian law. The state’s position contradicts itself. If there is any risk, even indirect, that such exports will be used in the perpetration of international crimes, such as genocide, such exports – including indirect exports – should not be allowed. While the Dutch state says to agree with us on the risk associated with these exports, its policies do not reflect this understanding. The Dutch government acknowledges that the occupation is illegal, yet continues military cooperation and allows trade with settlements, reinforcing the inconsistency between its legal stance and its actions. 

Shawan Jabarin, General Director of Al-Haq stated “Today, the Palestinian people have been met by abominable injustice. The Netherlands allows indirect sales of F-35 components to Israel, used in the industrial extermination of our children. The Netherlands has abandoned the most basic rules of international law, to prevent colonisation, annexation, apartheid and genocide –– an abandonment that creates a chasm of suffering, not just for Palestinians, but for all of mankind”.

“Today, a Dutch court in The Hague has chosen to ignore the findings of two international tribunals located in the same city, thereby failing to uphold the Netherlands’ obligations under international law. Concurrently, Israel persists in its systematic killing of Palestinians daily, actions further emboldened by rulings of this nature. We reiterate our urgent demand: cease all arms transfers to Israel, or face legal accountability at both the state and individual levels for complicity in the commission of international crimes,” said Issam Younis, Al Mezan’s Director. 

Raji Sourani, PCHR’s Director, added “This decision is a real shame as it emboldens Israel’s settler-colonial regime to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza which has been live streamed for 14 months. Instead of blocking these arms exports, which is the minimum that the Dutch government should be doing to address the current situation, the Dutch Court is giving legal protection for a state whose sitting Prime Minister has arrest warrants issued to him by the International Criminal Court.”

The coalition will thoroughly review the court’s ruling and is seriously considering appealing the decision. The systemic violence and dehumanisation faced by Palestinians demand immediate and concrete action, not complacency or complicity.

SUPPORT THE CASE

The coalition consists of Al-Haq, Al Mezan, Een Ander Joods Geluid (EAJG), the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Groningen Jabalya, SOMO, Stichting Kifaia, Nederlands Palestina Komitee, Stichting Palestina. The case is supported by Erev Rav and Plant een Olijfboom.

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Press Release

Legal Complaint Filed in Germany Against Axel Springer Over Yad2’s Promotion of Illegal Land Grabs in Palestine 

Legal Complaint Filed in Germany Against Axel Springer Over Yad2’s Promotion of Illegal Land Grabs in Palestine

+ DEUTSCHE VERSION UNTEN

Berlin – November 27, 2024 

Five Palestinian plaintiffs, along with the villages of Iskaka, Marda, and Taybeh in the occupied Palestinian territory, represented by the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC), have filed a landmark legal complaint against major German media publishing group Axel Springer S.E., alleging violations of German law on corporate due diligence obligations. The complaint accuses Axel Springer of contributing to land grabbing and human rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territory through their Israeli subsidiary that operates the classified ads platform Yad2. According to JLAC, Yad2 facilitates the majority of real estate transactions in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, at a time when forced displacement, annexation, and Israeli settler violence have dramatically escalated. 

The legal action, which is supported by Law for Palestine (L4P), the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), and the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), under the Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative, signals a significant step toward holding international corporations accountable for their involvement in Israeli crimes against Palestinians. 

Allegations Against Axel Springer 

Drawing on investigative research first published by The Intercept in February 2024, the complaint alleges that Axel Springer failed to comply with German law on business due diligence. Specifically, the company is accused of facilitating the sale and rental of properties in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, through Yad2. Currently, Yad2 provides more than 5,000 offers of properties and plots of land in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, which is occupied and populated by Israel in violation of international law. This practice exacerbates and solidifies the forced displacement of Palestinians while reinforcing the unlawful annexation of their land. These activities must be viewed within the broader context of severe human rights violations against Palestinians. 

The filing is made on behalf of Palestinian plaintiffs whose lands and lives have been profoundly affected by the Israeli occupation and settlement enterprise, deemed unlawful, inter alia, by the International Court of Justice in July 2024.  

“Holding illegal settlements and all entities who facilitate their developments and expansion accountable, is essential for justice and peace. The Palestinian communities we represent in this case continue to suffer the dire consequences of Israel’s decades-long colonial expansion on their land, which amounts  to racial discrimination and apartheid as the ICJ ruled in July 2024.”  

Issam Aruri, JLAC’s General Director.  
 

Legal Context 

This complaint aligns with this year’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory. The ICJ explicitly reaffirmed the obligation of states to prohibit business activities that sustain Israel’s illegal occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory. The complaint against Axel Springer is seen as a first step to call on Germany, a UN member state, to fulfil these obligations. 

Corporate Responsibility 

The complaint accuses Axel Springer of violating the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which since 2023 has required large German companies to address human rights risks in their supply chains and controlled subsidiaries. Public records suggest Springer actively manages its Israeli subsidiary that operates the Yad2 platform, failing to prevent its listings from facilitating land grabs that contribute to severe human rights violations, including violence, habitat destruction, restricted movement, as well as environmental harm. Some Palestinian complainants have already lost land, while others face imminent risk. They urge Germany’s Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) to impose interim measures halting Yad2’s real estate listings in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and to fine Springer up to 2% of its annual revenue, citing a recent Yad2 advertisement explicitly supporting Israeli control of the entirety of the West Bank. This legal action demands Axel Springer takes care that its subsidiary removes the listings and ceases business activities perpetuating these violations. 

“Palestinians are seeking to protect their land, the homes they live in, their existence with this very complaint,” says Robert Grabosch, one of the German lawyers supporting the case. “If BAFA establishes that Springer exercises decisive influence on the Yad2 business, I expect BAFA to order illegal listings of Palestinian land to be suspended or deleted from Yad2 within days. The German government has repeatedly stated that Palestinians’ sovereignty over their territory must be respected.” 

About  

Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC), is an organisation that has formed a specialised niche by providing legal aid to vulnerable communities confronting human rights violations. JLAC has established itself as a key player in addressing critical issues, handling pro-bono legal cases related to house demolitions, forced displacement, land confiscation, and settler violence amongst other cases.  

The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative is a Palestinian-led initiative composed of international legal practitioners and lawyers pursuing legal action against individuals and entities complicit in the crimes in Palestine and against the Palestinian people, including the genocide in Gaza. It is coordinated by the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Law for Palestine (L4P), and the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD).  

Press inquiries  

  • For general inquiries about the case [ EN/DE ] : The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative communication@accountabilitypalestine.org  
  • For the plaintiffs and situation in Palestine [ EN/AR] : Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC) info@jlac.ps  

Beschwerde in Deutschland gegen Axel Springer wegen Förderung illegaler Landnahme in Palästina durch Yad2 eingereicht 

Berlin – 27. November 2024 

Fünf palästinensische Beschwerdeführer sowie die Dörfer Iskaka, Tabyeh und Marda in den besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten – vertreten durch das Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC) – haben eine richtungsweisende Beschwerde gegen die große deutsche Medienverlagsgruppe Axel Springer S.E. eingereicht. Darin werden Verstöße gegen die Sorgfaltspflichten des Unternehmens nach deutschem Recht dargelegt. Axel Springer wird vorgeworfen, über eine israelische Tochtergesellschaft, die die Kleinanzeigenplattform Yad2 betreibt, zu Landraub und andauernden Menschenrechtsverletzungen in den besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten beizutragen. Laut JLAC vermittelt Yad2 einen Großteil der Immobilientransaktionen im besetzten Westjordanland und in Ost-Jerusalem, während Zwangsräumungen, Aneignungen und Siedlergewalt dort weiter zunehmen. 

Die Beschwerde, die von Law for Palestine (L4P), dem European Legal Support Center (ELSC) und dem Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) mitunterstützt wird, ist ein wichtiger Schritt, um internationale Unternehmen für ihre Beteiligung an israelischen Verbrechen gegen Palästinenser zur Verantwortung zu ziehen. 

Vorwürfe gegen Axel Springer 

Auf der Grundlage investigativer Recherchen, die The Intercept im Februar 2024 erstmals veröffentlicht hat, wird Axel Springer vorgeworfen, gegen deutsche Gesetze zur Sorgfaltspflicht in Auslandsgeschäften zu verstoßen. Konkret wird dem Unternehmen angelastet, über Yad2, der israelischen Online-Plattform zum Verkauf und zur Vermietung von Immobilien im Westjordanland, einschließlich Ost-Jerusalem, beizutragen. Zum gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt sind über diese Plattform über 5000 Angebote von Immobilien und Grundstücken in dem von Israel völkerrechtswidrig besetzten und besiedelten Westjordanland einschließlich Ost-Jerusalem eingestellt. Diese Praxis verschärft und verfestigt die Zwangsvertreibung von Palästinensern erheblich und verstärkt darüber hinaus die illegale Annexion ihres Landes. Diese Aktivitäten müssen vor dem Hintergrund schwerer Menschenrechtsverletzungen gegen Palästinenser verstanden werden. 

Die Beschwerde wird im Namen palästinensischer Beschwerdeführer eingereicht, deren Land und Leben durch die israelische Besatzung und Siedlungspolitik, die vom IGH im Juli 2024 als prinzipiell rechtswidrig eingestuft wurde, stark beeinträchtigt wurden. 

„Illegale Siedlungen und alle Einrichtungen, die ihre Entwicklung und Ausdehnung fördern, zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen, ist für Gerechtigkeit und Frieden in der Region unerlässlich. Die palästinensischen Gemeinschaften, die wir in diesem Fall vertreten, leiden weiterhin unter den schrecklichen Folgen der jahrzehntelangen kolonialen Expansion Israels auf ihrem Land, die Rassendiskriminierung und Apartheid gleichkommt, wie der IGH im Juli 2024 entschieden hat.” 

Issam Aruri, Generaldirektor von JLAC. 

Rechtlicher Kontext 

Diese Beschwerde steht im Einklang mit dem diesjährigen Gutachten des Internationalen Gerichtshofs (IGH) zu den rechtlichen Folgen der Politik und der Praktiken Israels in den besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten. Der IGH hat ausdrücklich die Verpflichtung der Staaten bekräftigt, Geschäftstätigkeiten zu verbieten, die die illegale israelische Besatzung der palästinensischen Gebiete unterstützen. Die Beschwerde gegen Axel Springer versteht sich als erster Schritt, Deutschland als UN-Mitgliedstaat dazu aufzufordern, diesen Verpflichtungen nachzukommen. 

Die Beschwerde wirft Axel Springer vor, gegen das Lieferkettengesetz (LkSG) zu verstoßen, das seit 2023 von größeren deutschen Unternehmen verlangt, Menschenrechtsrisiken in Lieferketten und Tochtergesellschaften zu vermeiden. Öffentliche Unterlagen deuten darauf hin, dass Springer einen bestimmenden Einfluss auf seine israelische Tochtergesellschaft Yad2 ausübt und nicht verhindert, dass Inserate auf Yad2 zur Zwangsräumung und zum Entzug von Land beitragen, womit auch weitere Menschenrechtsverletzungen, Gewaltanwendung, Bewegungseinschränkungen und Umweltschäden einhergehen.  

Einige palästinensische Beschwerdeführer haben bereits Land verloren, andere sind unmittelbar von Landraub gefährdet. Sie fordern das Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (BAFA) dazu auf, einstweilige Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um die Immobilienangebote von Yad2 im Westjordanland und Ostjerusalem zu stoppen. Sie fordern zudem, ein Bußgeld von bis zu 2 Prozent des Springer-Jahresumsatzes zu verhängen, zumal eine kürzlich geschaltete Yad2-Anzeige die israelische Kontrolle über das gesamte Westjordanland ausdrücklich unterstützt. Mit dieser Beschwerde wird Axel Springer aufgefordert, dafür zu sorgen, dass sein Tochterunternehmen diese Inserate entfernt und die Geschäftsaktivitäten einstellt, die den Landraub befördern. 

„Palästinenser versuchen mit dieser Beschwerde, ihr Land, ihre Häuser und ihre Existenz zu schützen“, sagt Robert Grabosch, einer der deutschen Juristen, die den Fall unterstützen. „Wenn das BAFA feststellt, dass Springer entscheidenden Einfluss auf die Geschäfte von Yad2 ausübt, rechne ich damit, dass es innerhalb weniger Tage anordnet, dass illegale Einträge palästinensischen Landes bei Yad2 deaktiviert oder gelöscht werden. Die Bundesregierung hat wiederholt erklärt, dass die Souveränität der Palästinenser über ihr Gebiet respektiert werden muss.“ 

Über  

Das Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC) ist eine Organisation, die sich auf Rechtshilfe für gefährdete Gruppen spezialisiert hat, die gegen Menschenrechtsverletzungen ankämpfen. JLAC hat sich als wichtiger Akteur bei der Bewältigung kritischer Fälle etabliert und bearbeitet unter anderem Pro-Bono-Rechtsfälle im Zusammenhang mit Hauszerstörungen, Zwangsumsiedlungen, Landenteignungen und Gewalt durch Siedler. 

Die „Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative“ ist eine palästinensisch geführte Initiative, die sich aus internationalen Rechtspraktikern und Anwälten zusammensetzt. Sie leiten rechtliche Schritte gegen Einzelpersonen und Organisationen ein, die sich an den Verbrechen in Palästina und gegen das palästinensische Volk mitschuldig gemacht haben, einschließlich des Völkermords in Gaza. Sie wird vom European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Law for Palestine (L4P) und dem Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) koordiniert. 

Presseanfragen  

Für allgemeine Anfragen zum Fall [EN/DE] : The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative communication@accountabilitypalestine.org  

Für die Kläger und die Situation in Palästina [EN/AR] : Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC) info@jlac.ps 

Categories
Press Release

ELSC Warns Aachen University in Germany About Direct Involvement in Crimes Against Humanity in Palestine 

On 30th September, the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) has warned the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH) in an open letter to comply with its obligations to prohibit genocide and apartheid and cut its cooperation agreements with the Israeli Technion University, which is directly involved in crimes against humanity in Palestine. 

Technion is known for its historically close ties with the Israeli military industries. It conducts research and development in fields such as robotics, drones, and cybersecurity, which are then deployed by the Israeli military. Moreover, many of the technological innovations emerging from Technion are “dual-use,” meaning they have both civilian and military applications, and they are also integrated into military strategies and equipment of the army. 

The RWTH Aachen University and the Technion are connected on multiple levels. They have a partnership agreement that provides an exchange platform for study and research visits for Bachelor, Master as well as Doctoral students in many areas that can be defined as “dual-use”, such as:  Energy Materials and Energy Conversion, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Image Processing as well as Biological- and Chemical Engineering. 

At no time did the RWTH Aachen University take a position on the genocide perpetrated by Israel in Gaza. Instead, it publicly expressed its solidarity with Israel after the 7th October, despite Israel’s clear violations of international law. This stands in clear contrast to the university’s handling of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, the University suspended all academic and scientific cooperation with the Russian Federation.  

In the face of such blatant complicity, students at the university, organised as Students for Palestine Aachen, set up a protest camp against genocide on campus in May 2024, demanding an end to the cooperation with the Israeli Technion University. Since then, they have organised numerous well-attended events such as lectures, workshops and demonstrations. Dozens of activists stay at the camp every night. 

Their demonstrations have been subjected to repeated physical attacks and vandalism by Zionists, as well as authoritarian repression by the university and the German police. In May 2024, two masked assailants attacked the camp, pouring white and blue paint right next to the tents of the sleeping students. In another incident, the University took thermal images of the students’ tents during their sleep to monitor the students’ activities, violating direct instructions by the Police not to do so. These thermal images were published during a court proceeding, in which the RWTH had unsuccessfully attempted to close the camp and deny the students of their constitutional right to assemble freely. 

Recently, police authorities have threatened to clear the camp after the university had repeatedly threatened to revoke the students’ right to hold a protest camp. The case is now pending and awaits judgement from the Higher Administrative Court in Münster. 

You can support the students by signing and amplifying their petition. Please consider donating to their fundraiser.  

DE

ELSC warnt die RWTH Aachen wegen direkter Beteiligung an Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit in Palästina  

Am 30. September forderte das European Legal Support Center (ELSC) die Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH) in einem offenen Brief auf, ihren Verpflichtungen zum Unterbinden von Völkermord und Apartheid nachzukommen und ihre Kooperationsvereinbarungen mit der israelischen Technion-Universität aufzuheben, da diese direkt an Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit in Palästina beteiligt ist.  

Seit jeher ist die Technion für ihre engen Verbindungen zur israelischen Militärindustrie bekannt. Sie betreibt Forschung und Entwicklung in Bereichen wie Robotik, Drohnen und Cybersicherheit, welche wiederum vom israelischen Militär eingesetzt werden. Darüber hinaus sind viele der technologischen Innovationen, die aus der Technion hervorgehen, „dual-use“, d. h., sie können sowohl zivil als auch militärisch eingesetzt werden und sind auch in militärische Strategien und Ausrüstung der Armee integriert.  

Die RWTH Aachen und die Technion sind auf vielfältige Weise miteinander verbunden. Sie haben ein Partnerschaftsabkommen, das eine Austauschplattform für Studien- und Forschungsaufenthalte für Bachelor- und Masterstudierende sowie für Doktorand:innen in vielen Bereichen bietet, die einen potenziellen ”dual-use” haben. So etwa: Energiematerialien und Energieumwandlung, Künstliche Intelligenz, Data Analytics, Bildverarbeitung sowie Bio- und Chemieingenieurwesen.  

Die RWTH Aachen hat sich zu keinem Zeitpunkt zum Völkermord Israels in Gaza positioniert. Stattdessen hat sie sich nach dem 7. Oktober lediglich mit Israel solidarisiert, obwohl Israel eindeutig gegen das Völkerrecht verstößt. Im Umgang mit Russlands Einmarsch in die Ukraine hat sich die RWTH Aachen deutlich kritischer positioniert. Im Jahr 2022 setzte die Universität jegliche akademische und wissenschaftliche Zusammenarbeit mit der Russischen Föderation aus.  

Angesichts der mittäterschaftlichen Beihilfe organisierten sich Studierende der Universität als „Students for Palestine Aachen“. Seit Mai 2024 haben sie auf dem Campus ein Protestcamp gegen Völkermord errichtet, um ein Ende der Zusammenarbeit mit der Technion zu fordern. Inzwischen haben sie zahlreiche gut besuchte Veranstaltungen wie Vorträge, Workshops und Demonstrationen organisiert. Dutzende Aktivist*Innen übernachten jede Nacht im Camp.  

Ihre Demonstrationen waren Grund genug für wiederholte Angriffe durch zionistisch-motovierten Vandalismus sowie für autoritäre Repression durch die Universität und die Polizei. Im Mai 2024 griffen zwei maskierte Angreifer das Camp an und gossen weiße und blaue Farbe direkt neben den Zelten der schlafenden Studierenden. In einem anderen Fall nahm die Universitätsleitung Wärmebildaufnahmen der Zelte der Studierenden während ihres Schlafs auf, um ihre Aktivitäten zu überwachen; trotz direkter Anweisung der Polizei dies zu unterlassen. Diese Aufnahmen wurden während eines Gerichtsverfahrens veröffentlicht, in dem die RWTH vergeblich versuchte das Camp zu schließen und den Studierenden ihr Grundrecht auf Versammlungsfreiheit zu verwehren. 

Vor kurzem drohte die Polizei damit, das Camp zu räumen, nachdem die Universität wiederholt drohte, den Studierenden das Recht auf ein Protestcamp zu entziehen. Der Fall ist nun anhängig und wartet auf das Urteil des Oberverwaltungsgerichts Münster.  

Sie können die Studierenden unterstützen, indem Sie ihre Petition unterschreiben und verbreiten, aber auch durch Spenden finanziell unterstützen.   

ARABIC:

وجّه المركز الأوروبي للدعم القانوني تحذيرًا إلى جامعة آخن في ألمانيا بسبب تورّطها المباشر في انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان في فلسطين. 

في 03 سبتمبر الماضي، وجّه المركز الأوروبي للدعم القانوني تحذيرًا لجامعة آخن التقنية في ولاية شمال الراين-فيستفاليا (HTWR) عبر رسالة مفتوحة، داعيًا الجامعة إلى الالتزام بواجباتها في منع الفصل العنصري والإبادة الجماعية، وإلغاء اتفاقيات التعاون مع التخنيون (معهد إسرائيل للتكنولوجيا) بسبب تورطه في انتهاكات لحقوق الإنسان في فلسطين. 

يُعرف التخنيون تاريخيًا بعلاقاته الوثيقة مع الصناعات العسكرية الإسرائيلية، حيث يقوم بإجراء أبحاث علمية وتطوير تقنيات في مجالات الروبوتات، والطائرات المسيّرة، والأمن الرقمي، وهي تقنيات يستخدمها الجيش الإسرائيلي. إضافة إلى ذلك، فإن العديد من الابتكارات الصادرة عن التخنيون تُعتبر ذات استخدام مزدوج، إذ لها تطبيقات مدنية وعسكرية. كما يشارك التخنيون في تطوير استراتيجيات عسكرية ومعدات حربية. 

ترتبط جامعة(nehcaA HTWR) ومعهد التخنيون بعدة مستويات. لديهما اتفاقية شراكة توفر منصة للتبادل للزيارات الدراسية والبحثية لطلاب البكالوريوس والماجستير والدكتوراه في العديد من المجالات التي يمكن تصنيفها كمجالات “ذات استخدام مزدوج”، مثل: مواد الطاقة وتحويل الطاقة، الذكاء الإصطناعي، تحليل البيانات، معالجة الصور، بالإضافة إلى الهندسة البيولوجية والكيميائية. 

لم تتخذ كلية آخن التقنية أي موقف تجاه الإبادة الجماعية التي تنفذها إسرائيل في غزة؛ بل أبدت دعمها لإسرائيل بعد 7 أكتوبر، رغم انتهاكاتها الواضحة للقانون الدولي. ويمكن ملاحظة التناقض في سلوك الجامعة عند مقارنة موقفها من الصراع الأوكراني-الروسي؛ حيث علّقت الجامعة كل العلاقات الأكاديمية والتعاون العلمي مع روسيا الاتحادية في عام 2202. 

في مواجهة هذا التواطؤ، أسس طلاب من الجامعة حركة طلاب لأجل فلسطين – آخن وأنشأوا مخيمًا داخل الحرم الجامعي للاعتصام ضد الإبادة الجماعية. منذ أبريل 4202، يطالب المشاركون بإنهاء التعاون مع التخنيون، وينظمون فعاليات شعبية متنوعة من محاضرات وورش عمل ومظاهرات. يبيت عشرات الناشطين في المخيم كل ليلة. 

كانت مظاهراتهم السلمية ذريعة كافية لقيام مخربين صهاينة بالاعتداء على المخيم، إضافة إلى القمع السلطوي من الجامعة والشرطة الألمانية. ففي إحدى ليالي أبريل 4202، هاجم شخصان مقنعان المخيم وسكبا طلاءً أبيض وأزرق أمام خيم الطلبة النائمين. وفي حادثة أخرى، التقطت إدارة الجامعة صورًا حرارية لخيم الطلاب أثناء نومهم بغرض مراقبة أنشطتهم، منتهكة بذلك توجيهات الشرطة بعدم القيام بذلك. وقد عرضت هذه الصور أثناء إجراءات المحكمة، حيث حاولت الجامعة دون جدوى إغلاق المخيم وحرمان الطلاب من حقهم الدستوري في حرية التجمع. 

مؤخرًا، هددت الشرطة بإخلاء المخيم بعد تكرار مطالبة الجامعة بسحب حق الطلاب في إقامة مخيم للاعتصام. ما زالت القضية قيد النظر، وننتظر الحكم من المحكمة الإدارية العليا في مونستر 

يمكنكم دعم الطلبة من خلال توقيع العريضة والمساهمة في نشرها، كما ندعوكم للتبرع لحملتهم. 

Categories
Press Release

Supporting Palestinians’ Right to Resistance is protected under Free Speech: Dana Abu Qamar Wins Landmark Tribunal Victory to Overturn Home Office’s Visa Cancellation  

Immigration Tribunal Affirms Palestinians’ Right to Resistance Under International Humanitarian Law, Ruling Support Does Not Constitute Extremism; Upholds Right to Free Speech and Declares Visa Revocation a Violation of Human Rights Under Article 10 of the ECHR.

LONDON, 30 October 2024: In a significant legal victory, Palestinian student Dana Abu Qamar has won her appeal at the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) against the Home Office’s attempt to cancel her student visa in December 2023. This decision comes after court documents showed that then-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick personally intervened in the matter, enquiring with the Home Office whether it would be “possible to revoke her student visa”.  

The Tribunal’s decision is a landmark ruling, rebuffing the British government’s relentless attempts to conflate solidarity with Palestine with ‘terrorism’ or ‘antisemitism’ and reaffirming the right to support Palestinian resistance under International Humanitarian Law. The decision was upheld despite a change in government, with the new Labour-appointed Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, refusing to reverse the initial punitive decision – illustrating how Labour has continued Tory policies that stifle advocacy and solidarity for Palestinian rights.   

The decision to cancel Abu Qamar’s visa came in the midst of a major crackdown by the previous government against the growing mobilisation in solidarity with Palestine in the wake of Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza. 

Significantly, the Tribunal declared that Abu Qamar was ‘not an extremist’ and ruled that the Home Office had failed to demonstrate that Abu Qamar’s statements in support of Palestinian resistance made her presence in Britain ‘not conducive to the public good’ – the test at the heart of Britain’s sweeping powers to deport individuals and deprive them of British citizenship.  

The Tribunal also recognised that Abu Qamar’s description of Israel as an “apartheid state,” aligned with the views of numerous human rights organisations and that references to Palestinians “actively resisting” and as “breaking free” are widely understood to relate to lawful acts of resistance. Subsequently, ruling that support for Palestinian resistance does not constitute extremism and falls within protected free speech pursuant to Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and thus attempts at revocating Dana’s visa under these grounds violates her fundamental rights.  

Dana Abu Qamar’s win is a boost for the Palestine solidarity movement and a blow to the British government’s shameless attempts to criminalise protestors and bully them into silence. The decision raises questions about the deeply politicised use of security and counter-terrorism powers against the Palestine movement and increasingly against those engaging in political activism and protest against the state. The ELSC calls for an end to the punitive use of counter-terrorism measures to suppress critical dissent and urges the UK government to uphold international human rights standards, protecting the rights of all communities to advocate for justice and lawful resistance against settler colonialism freely.  

Dana Abu Qamar, commented: “After a year-long legal battle against state repression and disregard of human rights, specifically targeted against pro-Palestinians, justice has prevailed.  

This case has reinforced Palestinians’ right to resist occupation in the domestic context; that the expression in support of that right cannot be conflated with support for terrorism; that there is no room for abuse of power by ministers and arbitrary decision-making to undermine the rule of law. I hope that this ruling inspires and strengthens supporters of the Palestinian movement to continue advocating against Israel’s flagrant violations of international law.  

I am grateful to the ELSC, my legal team, comrades, friends and family for their support throughout the whole process.” 

Tasnima Uddin, from ELSC, stated:  “Dana Abu Qamar’s landmark legal victory is a powerful reminder that government measures are often wielded to criminalise dissent, particularly within Palestinian, Muslim, and other minority communities.  

This decision underscores the misuse of vague security terms—like ‘non-conducive to the public good’—to stifle expressions of solidarity with Palestine, particularly in an atmosphere increasingly charged by racist political agendas, such as those spearheaded by figures like Robert Jenrick. Abu Qamar’s victory is a crucial step against the erosion of civil liberties and sends a clear message: solidarity with Palestine is not a crime. Supporting Palestinian resistance is internationally recognised and is not extremism.” 

Leigh Day partner Tessa Gregory said:  “In concluding that the decision to cancel our client’s visa was incompatible with her right to free speech, the Tribunal has made plain that expressions of solidarity with lawful Palestinian resistance which deeply reflect the deeply felt sense of historical injustice shared by many Palestinians must not and can not be equated with support for terrorism.” 

Mr R Hussain KC, Mr D Seddon KC and Mr R Fakhoury, instructed by Leigh Day, with support from the European Legal Support Center.  

To access the full judgement, please email tasnima@elsc.support

Categories
Press Release

Emergency motion against the delivery of explosives carried by the German ship MV Kathrin to Israel 

Emergency motion against the delivery of explosives from the German ship MV Kathrin to Israel

Berlin, 29 October 2024 – The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) has filed an emergency motion with the Berlin Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgericht Berlin), requesting that the court mandate the German government to stop the delivery of military RDX explosives to Israel, which are currently being transported on the German cargo ship MV Kathrin. Berlin-based lawyer Ahmed Abed, part of the ELSC’s network of lawyers in Germany, filed the urgent appeal on behalf of three Palestinians in Gaza, asking the German government to protect their right to life. 

The MV Kathrin is carrying 150,000 kg (8 shipping containers) of RDX explosives bound for Israeli Military Industries, the munitions production arm of Israel’s largest military company Elbit Systems. Elbit Systems uses the RDX explosive to manufacture weapons of war such as aerial bombs, mortars and rockets, which are used in violation of international law to commit crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes in the Gaza Strip. The petitioners demand that the delivery be stopped and that action be taken against the owner and the manager of the ship. 

On 23 August 2024, Namibian authorities found evidence of the military cargo on the MV Kathrin and prohibited the ship from docking, highlighting the urgency to ‘comply with its obligation not to assist or become complicit in Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the unlawful occupation of Palestine’. Since then, the ELSC has worked closely with the global BDS movement and various legal experts to alert state authorities to their obligations not to participate in the supply of weapons that facilitate Israeli violations of international law, and to stop the shipment. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, and Amnesty International have called for the MV Kathrin’s shipment of RDX explosives to be stopped, underlining obligations under the Genocide Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). 

The MS Kathrin was unable to call at any ports in Africa and the Mediterranean, although attempts were made in at least Angola, Slovenia, Montenegro and Malta. In mid-October 2024, the Portuguese government demanded the removal of the Portuguese flag from the ship. 

Since then, the MV Kathrin has been sailing under the German flag. As of October 24, 2024, shortly after departing from a port area outside Malta’s territorial waters, the MV Kathrin has been operating in stealth mode, deactivating all GPS satellite signals. The ship was sighted by journalists in the Albanian port of Porto Romano on Thursday evening, where it was unloaded, with the exception of ten containers, possibly including the eight containers of RDX intended for the Israeli genocide. The ship has subsequently departed from the port. 

Ahmed Abed explains: 

‘Germany is obliged to take action against the German freighter MV Kathrin because the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law require active intervention. The ICJ and the Chief Investigator of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, have provided detailed evidence that Israel is committing not only systematic war crimes but also crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.’ 

According to an open letter from American doctors, Israel’s military operation has killed at least 119,000 people since October 2023; approximately 5.4% of the 2.1 million population of the Gaza Strip. The danger of genocide has already been clearly exceeded.  On 26 February 2024, a Dutch court of appeal had also ruled that the delivery of F-35 spare parts to Israel must be stopped. The aim of this urgent appeal is therefore to immediately stop future licences for the delivery of weapons of war to Israel and to revoke licences that have already been granted. 

Contact for press enquiries: 

ELSC 

Karim Bohnhoff 
Mail: karim@elsc.support 

Lawyer Ahmed Abed 
Mail: kontakt@kanzlei-abed.de 

Background information: 

The owner of the cargo ship MV Kathrin, IMO 9570620, is MS ‘Peng Chau’ Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH & Co. KG. Behind the GmbH & Co. KG are Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH and the limited partners Kai Ramming and Comfort Treuhand GmbH, Große Burgstraße 55-57, 23552 Lübeck. Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH consists of Jan-Peter Boehe, Jonas Boehe and Max Gottwald (see also ). 

According to the commercial register, the shareholders are Anchor Martax Steuerberatungs mbH from Oldenburg, whose shareholders include, among others, various limited liability companies (GmbH) from the city of Oldenburg’s Green Party chairman Mr Hermann Neemann, Ms Anne Neehoff, Mr Carsten Husen and Mr Julian Heidfeld. 

According to vesselfinder.com, the management of the cargo ship MV Kathrin is handled by Lubeca Marine (Germany) GmbH & Co. KG. Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH is also behind the GmbH & Co. KG. 

Dringlichkeitsantrag gegen die Lieferung von Sprengstoff vom deutschen Schiff MV Kathrin nach Israel 

Oktober 2024 – Das European Legal Support Center (ELSC) hat heute einen Eilantrag beim Verwaltungsgericht Berlin eingereicht, in dem das Gericht die Bundesregierung auffordert, die Lieferung von militärischem RDX-Sprengstoff nach Israel zu stoppen, der sich derzeit an Bord des deutschen Frachtschiffs MV Kathrin befindet. Der Berliner Anwalt Ahmed Abed reichte den Eilantrag im Namen von drei Palästinenser*innen in Gaza ein, die von der deutschen Regierung verlangen, ihr Recht auf Leben zu schützen. 

Die MV Kathrin hat 150.000 kg (8 Schiffscontainer) RDX-Sprengstoff an Bord, der an Israeli Military Industries, der Munitionsproduktion von Israels größtem Militärunternehmen Elbit Systems, nach Israel geliefert werden soll. Elbit Systems verwendet den RDX-Sprengstoff zur Herstellung von Kriegswaffen wie Fliegerbomben, Mörsern und Raketen, die für Verstöße gegen das Völkerrecht wie Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit, Völkermord und Kriegsverbrechen im Gazastreifen eingesetzt werden. Die Antragstellenden fordern, dass die Lieferung gestoppt und Maßnahmen gegen den Eigentümer und den Manager des Schiffes ergriffen werden. 

Am 23. August 2024 fanden die namibischen Behörden Beweise für die militärische Fracht auf der MV Kathrin und untersagten das Anlegen des Schiffes, um ihrer „Verpflichtung nachzukommen, israelische Kriegsverbrechen, Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit, Völkermord sowie die unrechtmäßige Besetzung Palästinas nicht zu unterstützen oder sich daran zu beteiligen“. Seitdem arbeitet das ELSC mit der weltweiten BDS-Bewegung und diversen Rechtsexperten zusammen, um die staatlichen Behörden auf ihre Verpflichtungen hinzuweisen, sich nicht mit der Lieferung von Waffen an israelische Völkerrechtsverstöße zu beteiligen und die Ladung zu stoppen. Die UN-Sonderberichterstatterin für die besetzten palästinensischen Gebiete, Francesca Albanese, sowie Amnesty International, haben mit Blick auf die Verpflichtungen aus der Völkermordkonvention und dem Vertrag über den Waffenhandel (ATT) dazu aufgerufen, die Lieferung von RDX-Sprengstoff durch die MV Kathrin zu stoppen.  

Die MV Kathrin konnte keinen Hafen in Afrika und im Mittelmeerraum anlaufen, obwohl zumindest in Angola, Slowenien, Montenegro und Malta Versuche unternommen wurden.  Die portugiesische Regierung zwang den Kapitän des Schiffes Mitte Oktober 2024 die Flagge des Schiffes zu wechseln.  

Seitdem fährt die MV Kathrin unter deutscher Flagge. Seit dem 24. Oktober 2024, kurz nach dem Verlassen eines Hafengebiets außerhalb der Hoheitsgewässer Maltas, fährt die MS Kathrin im Stealth-Modus und schaltet alle GPS-Satellitensignale ab. Das Schiff wurde am Donnerstagabend von Journalist:innen im albanischen Hafen von Porto Romano gesichtet, wo die MV Kathrin mit Ausnahme von zehn Containern entladen wurde, darunter möglicherweise die acht Container mit RDX für den israelischen Völkermord. Seit Freitag hat das Schiff den Hafen verlassen. 

Ahmed Abed erklärt:  

„Deutschland ist verpflichtet, gegen den deutschen Frachter MV Kathrin einzuschreiten, weil die Völkermordkonvention und das humanitäre Völkerrecht ein aktives Eingreifen erfordern. Der IGH und der Chefermittler des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofs, Karim Khan, haben detailliert nachgewiesen, dass Israel im Gazastreifen nicht nur systematische Kriegsverbrechen, sondern auch Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit begeht.“ 

Die israelische Militäroperation seit Oktober 2023 hat laut einem offenen Brief amerikanischer Ärzte zu mindestens 119.000 Ermordeten geführt, das sind 5,4% der 2,1 Millionen Bevölkerung in Gaza. Die Gefahr eines Völkermordes wurde bereits deutlich überschritten. Ein niederländisches Berufungsgericht hatte bereits am 26. Februar 2024 entschieden, dass die Lieferung von F-35-Ersatzteilen an Israel gestoppt werden muss, da Israel Kriegsverbrechen in Gaza verübt. Ziel dieses Dringlichkeitsantrags ist es daher, künftige Genehmigungen für die Lieferung von Kriegswaffen an Israel unverzüglich zu stoppen und bereits erteilte Genehmigungen zu widerrufen. 

Pressemitteilung von 

ELSC (European Legal Support Center) 

Kontakt für Presseanfragen: 

ELSC 

Karim Bohnhoff 
Mail: karim@elsc.support 

Rechtsanwalt Ahmed Abed 
Mail: kontakt@kanzlei-abed.de 

Hintergrundinformationen: 

Eigentümerin des Frachtschiffes MV Kathrin, IMO 9570620, ist die MS „Peng Chau“ Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH & Co. KG. Hinter der GmbH & Co. KG stehen die Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH und die Kommanditisten Kai Ramming und die Comfort Treuhand GmbH, Große Burgstraße 55-57, 23552 Lübeck. Die Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH besteht aus Jan-Peter Boehe, Jonas Boehe und Max Gottwald (siehe auch https://lubeca-marine.de ). 

Anteilseigner bestehen laut Handelsregister aus der Anchor Martax Steuerberatungs mbH aus Oldenburg, deren Anteilseigner u.a. hinter diversen GmbH aus dem Grünen-Vorsitzenden der Stadt Oldenburg Herr Hermann Neemann, Frau Anne Neehoff, Herr Carsten Husen und Julian Heidfeld bestehen. 

Das Management des Frachtschiffes MV Kathrin wird laut vesselfinder.com von der Lubeca Marine (Germany) GmbH & Co. KG verwaltet. Hinter der GmbH & Co. KG steht ebenfalls die Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH. 

Categories
Press Release

BREAKING – Dutch and Palestinian NGOs sue Dutch state for failing to prevent genocide in Gaza and to ensure Israel respects international law

A coalition of Palestinian and Dutch civil society organisations are suing the Dutch state for failing to prevent genocide in Gaza and other Israeli violations of international law. The coalition’s main requests to the Dutch civil court include a ban on the export and transit of weapons, weapon parts, and dual-use items to Israel as well as a ban on all Dutch trade and investment relations that help maintain Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory. The coalition, consisting of Al-Haq, Al Mezan, Een Ander Joods Geluid (EAJG), the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Groningen Jabalya, SOMO, Stichting Kifaia, Nederlands Palestina Komitee, and Stichting Palestina is represented by lawyers from Global Justice Association in their proceeding before the court. The case is supported by Erev Rav and Plant een Olijfboom.

The Genocide Convention, to which the Netherlands is a party, obliges signatories to prevent the crime of genocide from taking place. However, the Netherlands, consistently positioning itself as a political ally of Israel, has failed to act to prevent genocide in Gaza, even after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found, in January 2024, that Israel is plausibly committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. In addition to the Genocide Convention, the Geneva Conventions bind states to ensure respect for international humanitarian law.

In February 2024, the Dutch Court of Appeal ruled that there is a clear risk of serious violations of international humanitarian law being committed by Israeli forces in Gaza. In the same month, UN experts warned that any transfer of weapons to Israel that would be used in Gaza is likely to violate international humanitarian law and should cease. Despite this, the Netherlands continues to be involved in the supply of weapon parts and dual-use items to Israel. In addition, even though the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested the issuance of arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, the Netherlands has sent top-level military delegations to meet with the Israeli army and invited Israel’s president to the Netherlands while many of his inciting statements were used in South Africa’s application to the ICJ. The filing argues that the Netherlands must ban all export and transfer of arms (parts) and dual-use goods to Israel – and push other states to do the same.

The confirmed death toll in Gaza since October 2023 is nearly 42,000 while over 200,000 people are estimated to have died as a result of injuries, preventable or treatable diseases and a lack of food, water, and medical treatment.

Structural violations of international law

The case filed today is not limited to the Dutch state’s inaction in light of Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza. The legal filing also challenges the woefully inadequate policy of the Netherlands when it comes to Israel’s structural violations of international law – since long before October 2023 – in both Gaza and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, through its military occupation and settlements, is unlawful and must end according to the ICJ. 

In July 2024, the ICJ determined that all States have the obligation to prevent and abstain from economic dealings that assist Israel’s unlawful policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The court case filed today seeks to bring an end to Dutch trade and investment relations that help maintain the illegal occupation, racial segregation, and colonisation through settlements. The Netherlands must take effective measures to that effect and push other states to do the same. 

No indication of taking measures

There is no indication that the Dutch state plans to take measures aimed at preventing genocide in Gaza or addressing Dutch economic ties to Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The new Dutch government has positioned itself even closer to Israel, as the latter continues to bombard, starve, and forcibly displace Palestinians with no end in sight. 

This is why the coalition of civil society organisations has decided to take the Dutch state to court. It is incumbent upon the Dutch judicial system to enforce legal obligations to which the state is committed.

Issam Younis from Al Mezan said,

The Palestinian people have been suffering from Israel’s violations of international law since long before 7 October 2023. However, our oppression has reached unprecedented levels in the past year.  People in Gaza have been the victim of a genocidal assault that does not appear to end anytime soon while, in the rest of Palestine, Israel is doubling down on its policies of colonisation, apartheid, and subjugation. The Netherlands is aware of this, but it continues to support Israel politically, economically, and militarily, at the cost of the rights of Palestinians.

Daan de Grefte from the ELSC added,

The ICJ has confirmed that Israel’s assault on Gaza since 7 October could amount to genocide, triggering the legal obligation of all states to do whatever is in their power to prevent it. The ICJ has also held that states should take steps to prevent trade or investment where it could support the unlawful occupation of Palestine. It is now up to domestic courts to give practical meaning to these determinations and to ensure that international law is applied equally to all states.

Lydia de Leeuw from SOMO said,

There can be no business as usual with Israel. Dutch investors, supermarkets, suppliers of military products, and other actors have been enabling the occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians for decades. The Netherlands, host of the ICC and ICJ, must adhere to its own obligations under international law and take measures for accountability. Now.

Wout Albers, attorney of the coalition, concluded,

The common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions is clear that states should stop breaches of international humanitarian law. The very minimum is not to deal with the oppressing regime. The rulings in the Genocide case and the Advisory Opinion have only emphasised what we already knew: genocidal acts are being committed and the occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal. All states, including the Netherlands, have the obligation to not cooperate and be complicit in violations, but also should do everything to stop future grave breaches and prevent further genocidal acts from happening.

SUPPORT THE CASE

[Dutch]


BREAKING – Nederlandse en Palestijnse organisaties klagen Nederlandse staat aan vanwege diens falen in voorkomen van genocide in Gaza


Een coalitie van Palestijnse en Nederlandse maatschappelijke organisaties klaagt de Nederlandse staat aan voor het niet voorkomen van genocide in Gaza en van andere Israëlische schendingen van het internationaal recht. De belangrijkste eisen van de coalitie aan de Nederlandse civiele rechter zijn een verbod op de export en doorvoer van wapens, wapenonderdelen en dual-use artikelen naar Israël en een verbod op alle Nederlandse handels- en investeringsrelaties die Israëls illegale bezetting van en nederzettingen in Palestijns gebied in stand helpen houden. De coalitie, bestaande uit Al-Haq, Al Mezan, Een Ander Joods Geluid (EAJG), het European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Groningen Jabalya, SOMO, Stichting Kifaia, Nederlands Palestina Komitee en Stichting Palestina, wordt in hun procedure voor de rechtbank vertegenwoordigd door advocaten van Global Justice Association. De zaak wordt ondersteund door Erev Rav en Plant een Olijfboom.

Het Genocideverdrag, dat door Nederland ondertekend is, verplicht ondertekenaars te voorkomen dat genocide plaatsvindt. Desondanks heeft Nederland, dat zich consequent opstelt als politieke bondgenoot van Israël, nagelaten actie te ondernemen om genocide in Gaza te voorkomen, zelfs nadat het Internationaal Gerechtshof (ICJ) in januari 2024 oordeelde dat het aannemelijk is dat Israël genocide pleegt tegen Palestijnen in Gaza. Behalve het Genocideverdrag verplichten ook de Geneefse Conventies staten om het internationaal humanitair recht te respecteren en te doen respecteren.

In februari 2024 oordeelde het Gerechtshof in Den Haag dat er een duidelijk risico bestaat op ernstige schendingen van het internationaal humanitair recht door Israëlische troepen in Gaza. In dezelfde maand waarschuwden VN-deskundigen dat elke levering van wapens aan Israël die in Gaza zouden kunnen worden gebruikt, waarschijnlijk in strijd is met het internationaal humanitair recht en moet worden stopgezet. Desondanks blijft Nederland betrokken bij de levering van wapenonderdelen en dual use goederen aan Israël. En bovendien heeft Nederland, ondanks het feit dat de aanklager van het Internationaal Strafhof (ICC) heeft verzocht om arrestatiebevelen uit te vaardigen tegen de premier en minister van Defensie van Israël, een militaire delegatie op topniveau gestuurd om het Israëlische leger te ontmoeten en de president van Israël uitgenodigd naar Nederland te komen. Veel van zijn ophitsende uitspraken stonden toen al in de aanklacht van Zuid-Afrika bij het ICJ. Eén van de eisen van de coalitie is dat Nederland alle export en doorvoer van wapenonderdelen en dual use goederen naar Israël moet verbieden – en andere landen moet aansporen hetzelfde te doen.
Het bevestigde dodental in Gaza sinds oktober 2023 is bijna 42.000, terwijl naar schatting meer dan 200.000 mensen zijn gestorven als gevolg van verwondingen, te voorkomen of behandelbare ziekten en een gebrek aan voedsel, water en medische behandeling.

Structurele schendingen van het internationaal recht
De zaak die vandaag is ingediend beperkt zich niet tot de passiviteit van de Nederlandse staat in het licht van de brute aanval van Israël op Gaza. De aanklacht gaat ook in tegen het tekortschietende beleid van Nederland als het gaat om Israëls structurele schendingen van het internationaal recht – sinds lang voor oktober 2023 – in zowel Gaza als de Westelijke Jordaanoever, inclusief Jeruzalem. Israëls aanwezigheid in de bezette Palestijnse gebieden, inclusief de militaire bezetting en nederzettingen, is onrechtmatig en moet volgens het ICJ eindigen.

In juli 2024 bepaalde het ICJ dat alle staten verplicht zijn om economische transacties die het illegale beleid en de illegale praktijken van Israël in de bezette Palestijnse gebieden ondersteunen, te voorkomen en zich hiervan te onthouden. De rechtszaak die vandaag is aangespannen wil een einde maken aan Nederlandse handels- en investeringsrelaties die de illegale bezetting, segregatie en kolonisatie door middel van nederzettingen in stand helpen houden. Nederland moet hiertoe effectieve maatregelen nemen en andere staten aansporen hetzelfde te doen.

Geen aanwijzingen voor het nemen van maatregelen
Er zijn geen aanwijzingen dat de Nederlandse staat van plan is maatregelen te nemen om de genocide in Gaza te voorkomen of de Nederlandse economische banden met Israëls illegale aanwezigheid in de bezette Palestijnse gebieden aan te pakken. De nieuwe Nederlandse regering heeft zich nog dichter naast Israël gepositioneerd, terwijl dat land doorgaat met het bombarderen, uithongeren en het gedwongen verplaatsen van Palestijnen zonder dat het einde daarvan in zicht is.

Daarom heeft de coalitie besloten de Nederlandse staat voor de rechter te dagen. Het is aan de Nederlandse rechter om de wettelijke verplichtingen waaraan de staat zich heeft gecommitteerd af te dwingen.

Issam Younis (Al Mezan) zegt:

Het Palestijnse volk heeft al veel langer dan oktober 2023 te lijden onder Israëls schendingen van het internationaal recht. Het afgelopen jaar heeft onze onderdrukking echter een ongekend niveau bereikt. Mensen in Gaza zijn het slachtoffer geworden van een genocidale aanval die niet lijkt te stoppen, terwijl Israël in de rest van Palestina diens beleid van kolonisatie, apartheid en onderwerping versterkt. Nederland is zich hiervan bewust, maar blijft Israël politiek, economisch en militair steunen, ten koste van de rechten van Palestijnen.

Lydia de Leeuw (SOMO) zegt:

Er kan geen sprake zijn van ‘business as usual’ met Israël. Nederlandse investeerders, supermarkten, leveranciers van militaire producten en andere spelers maken de bezetting en etnische zuivering van de Palestijnen al tientallen jaren mogelijk. Nederland, gastheer van het ICC en het ICJ, moet zich houden aan diens eigen verplichtingen onder internationaal recht en maatregelen nemen om de misdrijven te stoppen. Nu.

Wout Albers, advocaat van de coalitie, besluit:

Artikel 1 van de Geneefse Conventies stelt duidelijk dat staten een einde moeten maken aan schendingen van het internationaal humanitair recht. Geen zaken meer doen met het onderdrukkende regime is dan het minimale. De uitspraken in de Genocidezaak en de Advisory Opinion van het ICJ hebben alleen maar benadrukt wat we al wisten: er worden genocidale daden gepleegd en de bezetting van Palestijns gebied is illegaal. Alle staten, ook Nederland, hebben de plicht om niet mee te werken en medeplichtig te zijn aan schendingen en moeten ook alles doen om toekomstige ernstige schendingen en verdere genocidale daden te voorkomen.

العربية

عاجل: ترفعُ المنظّمات غير الحكوميّة الهولنديّة والفلسطينيّة دعوى قضائيّة ضدّ الدّولة الهولنديّة بتهمة فشلها في التّصدّي للإبادة الجماعيّة في غزّة وضمان احترام إسرائيل للقانون الدّوليّ

بتَّ اِئتلافُ متكوّنٌ من منظّمات المجتمع المدنيّ الفلسطينيّة والهولنديّة في شنّ دعوى قضائيّة ضدّ الدّولة الهولنديّة لفشلها في التّصدّي للإبادة الجماعيّة في غزّة وبسبب مختلف انتهاكات إسرائيل للقانون الدّوليّ كذلك. تتضمّنُ طلبات الائتلاف الرّئيسيّة المطروحة على المحكمة المدنيّة الهولنديّة حظر تصدير ومرور الأسلحة، وأجزاء ومكوّنات الأسلحة، والمواد ذات الاستخدام المزدوج إلى إسرائيل، إضافةً إلى حظر كلّ العلاقات التّجاريّة والاستثماريّة الهولنديّة التّي تمكّنُ من استمرار احتلال إسرائيل غير الشّرعيّ للأراضي الفلسطينيّة. يتكوّنُ الائتلافُ من مؤسّسة الحقّ، مركز الميزان لحقوق الإنسان، منظّمة diuleG sdooJ rednA neE (بالهولنديّة “صوت يهوديّ مختلف”)، المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (CSLE)، منظّمة negninorG aylabaJ (جرونينجن جباليا)، مركز OMOS(مركز أبحاث الشّركات المتعدّدة الجنسيّات)، حركة كفاية (ayafiK)، اللّجنة الهولنديّة الفلسطينيّة (sdnalredeN anitselaP eetimmoK)، حركة anitsalaP. ويمثّل محامون من جمعيّة العدالة العالميّة (noitaicossA ecitsuJ labolG) ائتلاف الجمعيّات السّالف ذكرها أمام القضاء وتدعمُ كلٌّ من مجموعة “إيريف راف” ( vaR verE) اليهوديّة المناهضة للصّهيونيّة ومؤسّسة moobfjilO nee tnalP (ازرعْ شجرة زيتون) الدّعوى القضائيّة المرفوعة.

تُلزمُ اتّفاقيّة منع جريمة الإبادة الجماعيّة والمعاقبة عليها، وهي اتّفاقيّة وقّعت عليها هولندا، الدّولَ الأطراف على منع حدوث جريمة الإبادة الجماعيّة. بيد أنّ الدّولة الهولنديّة التّي ما فتئت تلعبُ دور الحليف السياسيّ لإسرائيل فشلت فشلاً ذريعًا لتحول دون حصول إبادة جماعيّة في غزّة، حتّى بعد أن بيّنت محكمة العدل الدّوليّة، في جانفي/يناير 2024، أنّ إسرائيل ترتكب إبادةً جماعيّةً واضحةً ضدّ الفلسطينيّين والفلسطينيّات. علاوةً على ما تنصّ عليه اتّفاقيّة منع جريمة الإبادة الجماعيّة والمعاقبة عليها، تُلزمُ اتّفاقيّة جنيف الدّول بضمان احترام القانون الإنسانيّ الدّوليّ.

في فبراير/شبّاط 2024، قضتْ محكمة الاستئناف الهولنديّة بوجود خطر جليٍّ يتعلّق بانتهاكات جسيمة للقانون الإنسانيّ الدّوليّ ارتكبتها القوّات الإسرائيليّة في غزّة. في نفس الشّهر، أطلق خبراء الأمم المتّحدّة تحذيرًا ينصُّ على أنّ أيّ نقلٍ للأسلحة إلى إسرائيل لاستخدامها في غزّة قد يُشكّلُ انتهاكًا للقانون الإنسانيّ الدّوليّ، لذا فهو أمرٌ يجب إيقافه. ولكنْ، وعلى الرّغم من كلّ ما سلف ذكره، تواصل الدّولة الهولنديّة انخراطها في عمليّة تزويد إسرائيل بأجزاء ومكوّنات الأسلحة والمواد ذات الاستخدام المزدوج.

إضافةً إلى ذلك، رغم طلبات المدّعي العامّ للمحكمة الجنائيّة الدّوليّة بإصدار مذكّرة اعتقال بحقّ كلٍّ من رئيس الوزراء الإسرائيليّ ووزير الدّفاع، أرسلت الحكومة الهولنديّة ثلّةً مختارةً من الوفود العسكريّة السّامية للقاء الجيش الإسرائيليّ وأرسلت دعوةً للرّئيس الإسرائيليّ للقدوم إلى هولندا وهو للتّذكير نفس الرّئيس الذّي استخدمت جنوب أفريقيا تصريحاته التّحريضيّة لتقديم طلبها الرّسميّ إلى محكمة العدل الدّوليّة. ينصّ فحوى الطّلب على أنّه يجب على هولندا منع تصدير ومرور الأسلحة، وأجزاء ومكوّنات الأسلحة، والمواد ذات الاستخدام المزدوج إلى إسرائيل، كما يجب عليها أن تسعى جاهدةً إلى تشجيع دول أخرى للقيام بنفس الشيء.

حسب الأرقام الرّسميّة، يرتفع عدد القتلى في غزّة منذ شهر أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل ليصل إلى حواليْ 42 ألف قتيل وتشيرُ التّقديرات إلى أنّ أكثر من 200 ألف شخص لقوا حتفهم بشكل غير مباشر، أيْ نتيجةً للإصابات، لأمراض كان من الممكن الوقاية منها أو علاجها، ولنقص الغذاء والماء والعلاج الطّبيّ.[1]

انتهاكات بنيويّة للقانون الدّوليّ

لا تقتصرُ الدّعوى القضائيّة المرفوعة اليوم على تقاعس الدّولة الهولنديّة فيما يتعلّق بعدوان إسرائيل الوحشيّ على غزّة فقط، بل هي تتحدّى أيضًا سياسة هولندا غير الملائمة بشكل مؤسف في إطار انتهاكات إسرائيل البنيويّة للقانون الدّوليّ وهو ليس بالأمر الجديد، فهي انتهاكات ترجعُ إلى زمن بعيد يتعدّى شهر أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل من سنة 2023، وذلك في كلّ من غزّة والضّفّة الغربيّة والقدس أيضًا. يُعتبرُ وجود الكيان الإسرائيليّ في الأراضي الفلسطينيّة المحتلّة بفضل آليّة الاحتلال العسكريّ والاستيطان وجودًا غير قانونيّ ويجب أن يتوقّف بموجب ما نصّت عليه محكمة العدل الدّوليّة.

في شهر جويلية/يوليو 2024، نصّت محكمة العدل الدّوليّة على أنّ جميع الدّول ملزمة بالامتناع وحظر المعاملات الاقتصاديّة التّي تدعم سياسات إسرائيل وممارساتها غير القانونيّة في الأراضي الفلسطينيّة المحتلّة. تسعى الدّعوى القضائيّة المرفوعة اليوم إلى إنهاء العلاقات التّجاريّة والاستثماريّة التّي تساهم في ترسيخ وجود الاحتلال غير القانونيّ والتّمييز العنصريّ والاستعمار من خلال المستوطنات. يجب على هولندا اتّخاذ تدابير لتحقيق هذا الغرض ولتكون مثالاً تقتدي به الدّول الأخرى.

غياب أيّ إشارات تنوّه باتّخاذ أيّ تدبير كان

لا توجد أيّ إشارة واضحة أو دليل ما ينوّه بأنّ الحكومة الهولنديّة ستتخّذ إجراءات تهدف إلى منع الإبادة الجماعيّة في غزّة أو تحليل نوعيّة روابطها الاقتصاديّة مع الكيان الإسرائيليّ غير القانونيّ في الأراضي الفلسطينيّة المحتلّة. إنّ الحكومة الهولنديّة الجديدة ذات صلة وطيدة أكثر بإسرائيل التّي تواصل قصف وتجويع وتهجير الفلسطينيّين والفلسطينيّات القسريّ في دوّامة من العنف تنعدمُ فيها رؤية أيّ مخرج كان.

هذا هو السّياق الذّي جعل ائتلاف منظّمات المجتمع المدنيّ يتّخذ قرار رفع دعوى قضائيّة ضدّ الحكومة الهولنديّة لأنّه تقع على عاتق القضاء الهولنديّ مسؤوليّة إنفاذ الالتزامات القانونيّة التّي التزمت بها الدّولة مسبقًا.

يقول عصام يونس من مركز الميزان لحقوق الإنسان:

“إنّ معاناة الشّعب الفلسطينيّ من انتهاكات إسرائيل للقانون الدّوليّ لم تبدأ في 7 أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل 2023، بل قبل هذا التّاريخ بكثير. لكنّنا أصبحنا ضحايا قمع لا سابق له منذ العام الماضي. سكّان غزّة ضحايا هجومات تكتسي بكلّ وضوح حلّة إبادةٍ جماعيّةٍ لا يبدو أنّها ستنتهي في أيّ وقت قريب من الآن. وفي أراضي فلسطين الأخرى، تواصل إسرائيل مضاعفة سياساتها الاستعماريّة وسياسة الفصل العنصريّ والقهر. هولندا واعية كلّ الوعي بكلّ هذا، ولكنّها تواصل دعم إسرائيل سياسيًّا، اقتصاديًّا، وعسكريًّا على حساب حقوق الفلسطينيّين والفلسطينيّات.”

يُضيف دان دو جريفت من المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (CSLE):

“ أكّدت محكمة العدل الدّوليّة أنّ الهجمات التّي ما فتئت تشنّها إسرائيل على غزّة منذ 7 أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل يمكن أن تصل إلى مستوى تصنيف الإبادة الجماعيّة، وهو أمر يؤدّي إلى إلزام جميع الدّول قانونًا بالقيام بكلّ ما في وسعها لمنع ذلك. كما رأت المحكمة أنّه يتوجّب على الدّول اتّخاذ خطوات لمنع التّجارة أو الاستثمار كلّما كان الأمر داعمًا للاحتلال غير القانونيّ لفلسطين. في الوقت الرّاهن، يُعتبرُ الأمر متروكًا للمحاكم المحليّة حتّى تتجسّد وتتبلور هذه الالتزامات ولضمان تطبيق القانون الدّولي على قدم مساواة لكلّ الدّول.”

حسب أقوال ليديا دي لايو من مركز OMOS (مركز أبحاث الشّركات المتعدّدة الجنسيّات):

“لا يمكن مواصلة التّجارة مع إسرائيل مثل السّابق. لقد مكّن المستثمرون الهولنديّون والمتاجر الكبرى ومورّدو المنتجات العسكريّة وجهات فاعلة أخرى في هولندا من جعل الاحتلال الإسرائيليّ ممكنًا ومن ترسيخ التّطهير العرقيّ لفلسطين منذ عقود من الزّمن. يجب على هولندا التّي تحتضنُ في كيانها المحكمة الجنائيّة الدّوليّة ومحكمة العدل الدّوليّة أنْ تحترم التزاماتها بموجب القانون الدّوليّ وأن تتّخذ التّدابير اللاّزمة المتعلّقة بمحاسبة ومساءلة نفسها. الآن.”

يختمُ وُوت ألبارس، محامي الائتلاف، قائلاً:

“بموجب المادّة الأولى المشتركة لاتّفاقيّة جنيف، من الواضح أنّه يجب على الدّول أن تتوقّف عن انتهاك القانون الإنسانيّ الدّوليّ. والحدّ الأدنى هو عدم التّعامل مع نظام حكومة قمعيّ. لم تؤّكدْ كلٌّ من الأحكام الصّادرة في قضيّة الإبادة الجماعيّة والرّأي القانونيّ إلاّ على أمورٍ كنّا نعرفها سابقًا: تمّ ارتكاب إبادة جماعيّة واحتلال الأراضي الفلسطينيّة أمر غير قانونيّ. يجب على كلّ الدّول، بما في ذلك هولندا، الالتزام بعدم التّعاون وعدم التّواطؤ في مثل هذه الانتهاكات ويجب عليها أيضًا بذل قصار جهدها لوضع حدٍّ في المستقبل لمثل هذه الانتهاكات الوخيمة ولمنع حدوث أيّ عمل تنجم عنه إبادة جماعيّة لاحقًا.”

[1] “إحصاء القتلى في غزّة: صعبٌ لكنّه ضروريٌّ” في مجلّة لانسيت

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Press Release

Shocking levels of state violence and repression in Germany: Palästina Solidarität Duisburg and Samidoun

GERMAN AND ARABIC BELOW

In the early morning hours of the 16th of May 2024, over 50 police officers raided the homes and workplaces of alleged members of the Palestine solidarity group Palästina Solidarität Duisburg (PSDU).  

The Ministry of Interior of the German state North Rhine-Westphalia had outlawed the group just shortly before the raids.  Minister Herbert Reul declared: “In many cases, solidarity with Palestine hides nothing other than hatred of Jews – as is the case with the organization that is now banned. We use all legal means at our disposal to dry up anti-Semitism and ideological support for terror.” 

Among its baseless accusations, the ministry declared the group’s call for a ‘‘Free Palestine from the river to the sea’’ would “de facto’’ be a call for the ‘‘annihilation’’ of the State of Israel. 

The shallow reasoning resulted in the confiscation of the association’s assets, the ban of all their internet presence and the criminalisation of the public display of symbols related to the association (§ 11 Absatz 3 des Strafgesetzbuches). While this is an outrageously shocking display of German state repression and authoritarianism, it is not an isolated case. The ministry of Interior of the German state North Rhine-Westphalia explicitly mentioned the German chapter of the Palestine Prisoner solidarity network Samidoun, which was criminalised in Germany in November 2023 by decree by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. 

Members of the groups have been subjected to shocking levels of authoritarian state violence and repression. As such, they have repeatedly been threatened with financial penalties to prevent them from attending demonstrations “related to Palestine” following the raids during which members of PSDU and their families have been denied rights guaranteed under the German Penal Procedure code. They have been subjected to threatening intimidation, including threats to residency and citizenship status, lies and gross mockery by the police officers violating their intimate spheres.  

The police confiscated: flyers, stickers, buttons, pins, several flags and flagpoles, books and brochures, self-painted signs and posters, kuffiyehs, a loudspeaker system and a microphone, a megaphone, a pavilion, laptops and computers, cell phones, USB sticks and MP3 players as well as a few thousand euros in cash – including a large portion of private assets. 

Ahmad from PSDU states: “The police raids were accompanied by the Axel Springer press. Press teams were on site at the same time as the officials. In my opinion, this was a big show by the authorities to serve certain political interests. At a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify German involvement in the genocide and support for the IOF’s terrorist actions, politicians need scapegoats to justify the repression and oppression of the Palestinian movement in Germany in order to continue trying to silence the Palestinian movement and voices against genocide and the barbaric violence of the Zionist occupation.” 

Germany’s descent into blatant authoritarianism 

The ban of the groups and the related raids are part of a larger ruthless state campaign to repress dissent and criminalise mobilisation against Israel’s ongoing genocidal onslaught on Gaza and Germany’s complicity. There are legal cases pending admission by the court against the ban itself, and against all raids as well.  

We are observing a worrying trend in Germany. Authorities are taking extra-legal, in many cases clearly illegal, measures to further repression against the Palestine solidarity movement and attempts to increase the criminalisation, fragmentation, and isolation of activists and activist groups.  

This seems to happen in collusion with German media. Right wing tabloids are now routinely publishing target lists and smear articles with names and employers of Palestine solidarity activists in Germany. These activists are then exposed to surveillance, raids, extreme police brutality and legal persecution. 

Politicians from Germany’s ruling coalition representing the social democrats (SPD), The Greens and the Liberal party (FDP) are constantly overbidding themselves in shockingly authoritarian and racist statements and moves competing with the largest opposition parties, the Christian democrats (CDU&CSU) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). 

Attempts to criminalise the slogan “Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea”, with several instances dating back to as early as 2022, are ever-growing. At the time, the conference of interior ministers had declared that it would test and use all legal measures that allow a criminalisation of the use of the slogan to express Palestine solidarity.   

This political climate leads to almost completely unchecked escalation of state repression by the German authorities. While in many cases, the authoritarian instructions informing the executive are successfully challenged in court, the damage is usually already done. German politicians and German authorities and law enforcement units have not been held accountable for their unconstitutional decisions which continue and increase the violations of fundamental civic and human rights, often times with corporate complicity. There are next to no consequences. The German ministry of Interior is now pushing to allow the German Federal Police to raid homes in secret. 

Leon from PSDU commented: “An important aim of the repression is of course to intimidate us. And all I can say is they didn’t succeed! We both took legal action against the ban, and we use every opportunity and travel all over Germany to talk about the repression, about Palestine, about the genocide in Gaza and about the legitimate resistance of the Palestinian people. And we are pleased that other former PSDU comrades continue to be active and that other groups in Germany are not intimidated, continue and invite us to join them. 

The repression is also clearly calculated: it seeks to bleed us dry financially. The confiscations caused €25,000 in damages to a comrade and me alone, and we are required to pay around €8,000 in advance for the first instances. But this strategy isn’t working either: we are prepared to give our last penny for this fight. And we are experiencing great solidarity, and I am optimistic that we will be able to cover the costs and fight this battle.” 

We call for solidarity with PSDU and Samidoun, and urge to support the ‘’Komitee Gegen das Verbot von Palästina Solidarität D uisburg’’ which fights the ban of the group through legal and political means and collects donations to cover the legal costs. 
 
Sign this statement in support of Samidoun and the International Campaign Against Anti-Palestinian Repression in Germany here. For details on how to support Samidoun, see here.  

Schockierendes Ausmaß an staatlicher Gewalt und Repression in Deutschland: Palästina Solidarität Duisburg und Samidoun  

In den frühen Morgenstunden des 16. Mai 2024 durchsuchten über 50 Polizeibeamte die Wohnungen und Arbeitsplätze von mutmaßlichen Mitgliedern der Gruppe Palästina-Solidarität Duisburg (PSDU).  

Das nordrhein-westfälische Innenministerium hatte die Gruppe erst kurz vor den Razzien verboten. Minister Herbert Reul erklärte dazu: „Hinter der Solidarität mit Palästina verbirgt sich in vielen Fällen nichts anderes als Judenhass – so auch bei der jetzt verbotenen Organisation. Wir setzen alle rechtlichen Mittel ein, um Antisemitismus und ideologische Unterstützung des Terrors auszutrocknen’’.  

Eine haltlose Anschuldigung des Ministeriums: die Forderung der Gruppe nach einem „freien Palästina vom Fluss bis zum Meer’’ sei „de facto’’ ein Aufruf zur „Vernichtung’’ des Staates Israel.  

Diese schwache Argumentation führte zur Beschlagnahmung des Vermögens der Gruppe, zum Verbot ihrer gesamten Internetpräsenz und zur Kriminalisierung der öffentlichen Zurschaustellung von Symbolen der Vereinigung (§ 11 Absatz 3 des Strafgesetzbuches). Dies ist zwar ein schockierendes Beispiel für die Repression und den Autoritarismus des deutschen Staates, stellt aber in keinster Weise  einen Einzelfall dar. Das nordrhein-westfälische Innenministerium erwähnte ausdrücklich die deutsche Sektion des Solidaritätsnetzwerks für palästinensische Gefangene Samidoun, welche in Deutschland im November 2023 per Dekret von Bundesinnenministerin Nancy Faeser kriminalisiert wurde.  

Die Mitglieder der Gruppen sind in erschreckendem Maße autoritärer staatlicher Gewalt und Repression ausgesetzt. So wurden ihnen wiederholt Geldstrafen angedroht, um sie daran zu hindern, an Demonstrationen „mit Bezug zu Palästina“ teilzunehmen. Bei den Razzien wurden Mitgliedern von PSDU und ihren Familien die in der deutschen Strafprozessordnung garantierten Rechte verweigert. Sie waren Einschüchterungen, einschließlich der Bedrohung des Aufenthaltsstatus und der Staatsbürgerschaft, Lügen und groben Verhöhnungen durch die Polizeibeamten ausgesetzt, die in ihre tiefste Intimsphäre eindrangen.  

Die Polizei beschlagnahmte: Flugblätter, Aufkleber, Buttons und Anstecker, mehrere Fahnen und Fahnenmasten, Bücher und Broschüren, selbstgemalte Schilder und Plakate, Kuffiyehs, eine Lautsprecheranlage und ein Mikrofon, ein Megaphon, einen Pavillon, Laptops und Computer, Handys, USB-Sticks und MP3-Player sowie einige tausend Euro Bargeld – darunter ein großer Teil Privatvermögen.  

Ahmad von PSDU erklärt: „Die Polizeirazzien wurden von der Axel Springer Presse begleitet. Presseteams waren zur gleichen Zeit vor Ort wie die Beamten. Meiner Meinung nach war dies eine große Show der Behörden, um bestimmte politische Interessen zu bedienen. In einer Zeit, in der es immer schwieriger wird, die deutsche Beteiligung am Völkermord und die Unterstützung der terroristischen Aktionen der IOF zu rechtfertigen, brauchen Politiker Sündenböcke, um die Repression und Unterdrückung der palästinensischen Bewegung in Deutschland zu rechtfertigen und um weiterhin zu versuchen, die palästinensische Bewegung und die Stimmen gegen den Völkermord und die barbarische Gewalt der zionistischen Besatzung zum Schweigen zu bringen.” 

Deutschlands Abgleiten in eklatanten Autoritarismus  

Das Verbot der Gruppen und die damit verbundenen Razzien sind Teil einer größeren, schonungslosen staatlichen Kampagne zur Unterdrückung abweichender Meinungen und zur Kriminalisierung der Mobilisierung gegen Israel’s anhaltenden völkermörderischen Angriff auf Gaza und die deutsche Mitschuld daran. Gegen das Verbot selbst, aber auch gegen alle Razzien sind Klagen anhängig, die auf Zulassung von den Gerichten warten.  

Wir beobachten in Deutschland einen besorgniserregenden Trend. Behörden ergreifen extralegale, in vielen Fällen eindeutig illegale Maßnahmen zur weiteren Repression gegen die Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung und versuchen, die Kriminalisierung, Zersplitterung und Isolierung von Aktivist:innen und Aktivist:innengruppen zu verschärfen.  

Dies scheint in Zusammenarbeit mit deutschen Medien zu geschehen. Rechtsgerichtete Boulevardzeitungen veröffentlichen nun routinemäßig Ziellisten und Hetzartikel mit Namen und Arbeitgeber:innen von Palästina-Solidaritätsaktivist:innen in Deutschland. Diese Aktivist:innen sind dann Überwachung, Razzien, extremer Polizeibrutalität und rechtlicher Verfolgung ausgesetzt.  

Politiker der deutschen Regierungskoalition aus Sozialdemokraten (SPD), Grünen und den Liberalen (FDP) überbieten sich ständig mit schockierend autoritären Äußerungen und Maßnahmen im Wettbewerb mit den größten Oppositionsparteien, den Christdemokraten (CDU&CSU) und der rechtsextremen Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).  

Gleichzeitig nehmen die Versuche zu, die Parole „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea” zu kriminalisieren, wobei mehrere Fälle bereits in das Jahr 2022 zurückreichen. Zu dem Zeitpunkt hatte die Innenministerkonferenz erklärt, sie werde alle rechtlichen Maßnahmen prüfen und anwenden, die eine Kriminalisierung der Verwendung der Parole als Ausdruck der Palästina-Solidarität ermöglichen.   

Dieses politische Klima führt zu einer fast völlig unkontrollierten Eskalation der staatlichen Repression durch die deutschen Behörden. Zwar werden die autoritären Weisungen der Exekutive in vielen Fällen erfolgreich vor Gericht angefochten, doch der Schaden ist in der Regel bereits angerichtet. Deutsche Politiker:innen und deutsche (Strafverfolgungs-)behörden werden nicht für ihre verfassungswidrigen Entscheidungen zur Rechenschaft gezogen. Die Verletzung grundlegender Bürger- und Menschenrechte wird fortgesetzt und verstärkt, oft mit der Komplizenschaft deutscher Unternehmen. Es gibt so gut wie keine Konsequenzen. Das deutsche Innenministerium drängt nun darauf, der deutschen Bundespolizei heimliche Hausdurchsuchungen zu erlauben.  

Leon von PSDU kommentiert: „Ein wichtiges Ziel der Repression ist es natürlich, uns einzuschüchtern. Und ich kann nur sagen: Das ist ihnen nicht gelungen! Wir haben beide rechtliche Schritte gegen das Verbot eingeleitet und wir nutzen jede Gelegenheit und reisen durch ganz Deutschland, um über die Repression, über Palästina, über den Völkermord in Gaza und über den Widerstand des palästinensischen Volkes zu sprechen. Und wir freuen uns, dass andere ehemalige PSDU-Genoss:innen weiterhin aktiv sind und dass andere Gruppen in Deutschland sich nicht einschüchtern lassen, weitermachen und uns einladen, sich ihnen anzuschließen.  

Die Repression ist auch klar kalkuliert: Sie zielt darauf ab, uns finanziell auszubluten. Die Beschlagnahmungen haben allein bei einem Genossen und mir einen Schaden von 25.000 Euro verursacht, und für die ersten Instanzen müssen wir rund 8.000 Euro vorstrecken. Aber auch diese Strategie geht nicht auf: Wir sind bereit, unseren letzten Pfennig für diesen Kampf zu geben. Wir erleben eine große Solidarität. Ich bin optimistisch, dass wir die Kosten decken und diesen Kampf ausfechten können.” 

Wir rufen zur Solidarität mit PSDU und Samidoun auf und bitten um Unterstützung des „Komitee Gegen das Verbot von Palästina Solidarität Duisburg“, das mit juristischen und politischen Mitteln gegen das Verbot der Gruppe kämpft und Spenden zur Deckung der Prozesskosten sammelt.  

Unterzeichnet außerdem diese Erklärung zur Unterstützung von Samidoun und der Internationalen Kampagne gegen antipalästinensische Unterdrückung in Deutschland. Details zur finanziellen Unterstützung des Falls findet ihr hier.  


حملات عنف وقمع مروّعة ومفزعة من قبل الحكومة الألمانيّة: مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ وشبكة صامدون

في السّاعات الأولى من صباح يوم 61 مايو 4202، قام أكثر من 05 شرطيّ بمداهمة منازل وأماكن عمل أعضاء مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP) على خلفيّة اشتباه الدّولة الألمانيّة فيهم.

قبل شنِّ هذه المداهمات بوقت قصير، قامت وزارة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة في ولاية شمال الراين – وستفاليا بحظر كينونة وأنشطة المجموعة المذكورة، وقد أعلنَ الوزير هربرت رويل ما يلي: “في العديد من الحالات، لا يخفي التّضامنُ مع فلسطين في طيّاته إلاّ كراهيّةً تستهدفُ اليهود، كما هو حال المنظّمة التّي حُظرتْ أنشطتها في الوقت الحاليّ. نحن نلجأ إلى كلّ الوسائل القانونيّة المتاحة لنا للقضاء على أيّ شكل من أشكال دعم المعاداة الساميّة وإيديولوجيا الإرهاب”.

تستندُ الوزارة على اتّهامات بلا أساس وغير مبرّرة، من بينها إعلان أنّ دعوة مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ التّي تنصّ على “تحرير فلسطين من النّهر إلى البحر” ليست في الواقع العمليّ إلاّ دعوة إلى “إبادة” دولة إسرائيل.

بسبب هذا المنطق العدميّ والتّحليل السّطحيّ، تمّت مصادرة أصول الجمعيّة وحظر وجودها حظرًا تامًّا على شبكة الإنترنت، إضافةً إلى تجريم عرض رموزها في المساحات العامّة واعتبار أيّ مخالفة لذلك جرمًا (المادّة 11 من القانون الجنائيّ). رغم أنّ هذه الأمثلة تعتبرُ مرآةً تعكسُ بوضوح قمعَ واستبداد الحكومة الألمانيّة الشّنيع والمفزع، فهي ليست في حقيقة الأمر مجرّد حالة معزولة. لقد أشارت وزارة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة في ولاية شمال الراين – وستفاليا بكلّ وضوح إلى الفرع الألمانيّ التّابع لشبكة التّضامن مع الأسرى الفلسطينيّين صامدون الذّي أصبح كيانًا غير قانونيّ في ألمانيا منذ شهر نوفمبر 3202 بموجب مرسوم صادرٍ عن وزيرة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة، نانسي فيزر.

لقد كان أعضاء المجموعة عرضةً لمختلف أشكال العنف والقمع ذي الصّبغة الاستبداديّة المُروّعة التّي مارستها الحكومة الألمانيّة. على سبيل المثال، تعرّض هؤلاء مرارًا وتكرارً لتهديدات تنصّ على عقوبات ماليّة لمنعهم من حضور المظاهرات “المتعلّقة بفلسطين” وذلك في أعقاب المداهمات التّي حُرمَ خلالها أعضاء مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP) وأفراد عائلاتهم من حقوقهم، رغم أنّها حقوق يضمنها قانون الإجراءات الجنائيّة الألمانيّ. علاوةً على ذلك، كانوا ضحيّة التّهديداتِ والتّرهيبِ، كالتّهديدات المتعلّقة بحقّ الإقامة والتّمتّع بالجنسيّة، كما استهدفتهم الأكاذيب والسّخريّة الفظّة من قبل أعوان الشّرطة الذّين انتهكوا خصوصيّتهم.

في هذا السّياق، قامت الشّرطة بمصادرة ما يلي: منشورات، ملصقات، أزرار، دبابيس، العديد من الأعلام وساريات الأعلام، كتب وكتيّبات، لافتات وملصقات مُخصّصة، كوفيّات، نظام تكبير الصّوت وميكروفون، مكبّر صوت، خيمة، حواسيب محمولة وأجهزة كمبيوتر، هواتف محمولة، وحدات ذاكرة (BSU)، مشغّلات 3PM، إضافةً إلى بضعة آلاف من اليورو نقدًا، وهي تتضمّن جُزْءًا كبيرًا من الأصول الخاصّة للمجموعة.

حسب أقوال أحمد من مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP): رافق صحافيّو جريدة أكسل سبرينغر فرقة الشّرطة التّي شنّت المداهمات. لقد كانت فريق الصّحفيّين موجودًا على عين المكان في نفس وقت تواجد المسؤولين. في اعتقادي، يمثّل هذا السّيناريو استعراضًا واسع النّطاق من قبل السّلطات بغية خدمة مصالح سياسيّة معيّنة. خلال هذه الفترة الزّمنيّة التّي أصبح فيها من الصّعب أكثر فأكثر تبرير تورّط ألمانيا في الإبادة الجماعيّة ودعم الأعمال الإرهابيّة التّي ترتكبها قوّات الاحتلال الإسرائيليّ، يحتاج رجال السّياسة إلى كبش فداءٍ لتبرير التّضييق والقمع الذّي يستهدف الحركة الفلسطينيّة في ألمانيا لتمكينهم من مواصلة كتم صوت الحركة الفلسطينيّة والأصوات المناهضة للإبادة الجماعيّة وعنف الاحتلال الصّهيونيّ الهمجيّ”.

سقوط ألمانيا الذّاتيّ في الاستبداد الفاحش والمتمادي

إنّ حظر المجموعات والمداهمات المنظّمة في نفس السّياق هي جزْء لا يتجزّأ من حملة حكوميّة شرسةٍ ذات نطاق أوسع تسعى إلى قمع الرّأي المعارض وتجريم أنشطة التّعبئة التّي تندّدُ بالإبادة الجماعيّة المتواصلة على يد إسرائيل وبتواطؤ ألمانيا كذلك. وُجّهت دعاوى قانونيّة تنظر فتح تحقيقٍ من قبل الادّعاء العامّ الألمانيّ وهي شكاوى ضدّ الحظر و المداهمات المنظّمة أيضًا.

من الواضح أنّ ألمانيا تسلكُ اتّجاهًا مقلقًا ومحيّرًا، فالسّلطات تتّخذُ إجراءات وتدابير تتجاوز نطاق القانون. وفي الكثير من الحالات، تُعتبرُ هذه الإجراءات غير القانونيّة بتاتًا وسيلةً لتشديد القمع ضدّ حركة التّضامن مع فلسطين وزيادة محاولات تجريم وتفتيت شمل النّشطاء والنّاشطات والمجموعات النّاشطة وعزلهم.

يبدو أنّ كلّ هذه الأمور تحدثُ بتواطؤ من وسائل الإعلام الألمانيّة، فالصّحف الشّعبيّة ذات التّوجّه السّياسيّ اليمينيّ تنشرُ يوميًّا قوائمًا ذات أهداف معيّنة ومقالات تشهيريّة تتضمّن أسماء المسؤولين في حركة التّضامن مع فلسطين في ألمانيا والنّاشطين والنّاشطات فيها، ممّا يجعل هؤلاء عرضة لمراقبة الشّرطة، للمداهمات شديدة الوحشيّة، وللاضطهاد القانونيّ.

ما فتئ السّياسيّون من الائتلاف الحاكم في ألمانيا، أيْ الحزب الدّيمقراطيّ الاجتماعيّ (DPS) وحزب الخضر والحزب اللّيبيراليّ (PDF)، يبالغون بشكل مستمرّ في تصريحاتهم وتحرّكاتهم الاستبداديّة والعنصريّة مبالغةً صادمةً ويتنافسون مع أهمّ أحزاب المعارضة، أيْ حزب الدّيمقراطيّين المسيحيّين (USC&UDC)  وحزب البديل اليمينيّ المتطرّف لألمانيا (DfA). 

تشهدُ محاولات تجريم شعار “فلسطين حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر” المتعدّدة تفاقمًا واضحًا منذ بداية عام 2202، حيث أعلن مؤتمر وزراء الدّاخليّة حينها أنّه سيختبرُ ويلجأ إلى جميع التّدابير القانونيّة التّي تسمحُ بتجريم استخدام هذا الشّعار في أيّ سياق يسعى إلى التّعبير عن التّضامن مع فلسطين.

يؤدّي هذا المناخ السّياسيّ إلى تصعيد القمع الحكوميّ الذّي تمارسه السّلطات الألمانيّة وهو قمعٌ لا رقابة عليه إطلاقًا. في كثير من الحالات، يتكلّلُ الطّعن في الأوامر الاستبداديّة من قبل السّلطة التّنفيذيّة في جلسات المحاكم بالنّجاح، ولكنّه يأتي متأخّرًا، فهو في أغلب الأحيان نجاح لا ينفي حصول ضرر فعليّ مسبقًا. تظلّ القرارات غير الدّستوريّة لرجال السّياسة الألمان والسّلطات الألمانيّة ووحدات تنفيذ القانون دون محاسبةٍ ومتواصلةً، ممّا يزيد من انتهاكات الحقوق المدنيّة والإنسانيّة الأساسيّة. غالبًا ما تكون هذه الانتهاكات، التّي تكاد تكون دون عواقب، ممكنة بفضل تورّط وتواطؤ الشّركات والمؤسّسات. في الوقت الرّاهن، وزارة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة تسعى جاهدةً إلى السّماح للشّرطة الفيدراليّة الألمانيّة بمداهمة المنازل سرًّا.

حسب شهادة ليون من مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP): ” بطبيعة الحال، يُعتبرُ جوهر القمع وهدفه الرّئيسيّ ترهيبنا. كلّ ما أستطيع قوله هو أنّهم لم ينجحوا! لقد اتّخذ كلّ منّا إجراءات قانونيّة ضدّ الحظر، كمّا أنّنا نستغلّ كلّ فرصة ونتنقّل في جميع أنحاء ألمانيا للتّنديد بالقمع وللتّحدّث عن فلسطين وعن الإبادة الجماعيّة في غزّة وكذلك عن شرعيّة مقاومة الشّعب الفلسطينيّ. يُسعدنا أنّ رفاقًا سابقين من مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP) يواصلون أنشطتهم كناشطين وناشطات وأنّ مجموعات أخرى في ألمانيا لا تستسلم للتّرهيب وتستمرّ في نشاطها وتدعونا إلى الانضمام إليها.

من البديهيّ أنّ اللّجوء إلى القمع استراتيجيّةٌ مدروسةٌ بشكل محنّك، بعبارة أخرى: استنزافنا ماليًّا. فقد تسبّبت عمليّات مصادرة ممتلكاتي وممتلكات رفيقي فقط في أضرار ماليّة تبلغ 52 ألف يورو. كما أنّنا مطالبون بدفع حوالي 8 آلاف يورو مسبقًا قبل حضور جلسات المحكمة الابتدائيّة. بيد أنّ هذه الاستراتيجيّة لم تنجح كذلك: إنّنا مستعدّون للتّضحية بآخر فلس في حوزتنا للكفاح. نحن نتمتّع بتضامن عظيم، لذا فأنا متفائل بأنّنا سنكون قادرين على تدبّر أمر التّكاليف وعلى خوض هذه المعركة”.

أمّا بعد، نحن ندعو إلى التّضامن مع مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP) وشبكة صامدون ونحثّ على دعم لجنة مناهضة حظر مجموعة التضامن مع فلسطين – ديوسبورغ التّي تعمل على مكافحة حظر المجموعة من خلال وسائل وآليّات قانونيّة وسياسيّة وتجمعُ التّبرّعات لتغطية التّكاليف القضائيّة.

يرجى التّوقيع هنا على هذا البيان الدّاعم لشبكة صامدون و الحملة الدّوليّة المناهضة للقمع ضدّ الفلسطينيّين في ألمانيا. لمزيد من التّفاصيل حول كيفيّة مساندة صامدون، اطّلع على هذا الرّابط.

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Press Release

Disclosed emails reveal Tory Minister’s secret personal request to cancel a Palestinian student’s visa

Dana AbuQamar

LONDON, 04 SEPTEMBER 2024: Disclosed emails reveal that the Government’s decision to cancel the visa of a 20-year-old Palestinian student from the UK was instigated personally by Robert Jenrick MP, the then Immigration Minister and a current Conservative leadership candidate.  

Following an interview Dana Abu Qamar gave to Sky News on 8 October 2023, in which she expressed support for the right of Palestinians to resist the illegal Israeli occupation in accordance with international law, Jenrick’s private secretary wrote to Home Office officials to indicate that “the Minister is interested in finding out about Dana Abu Qamar” and to enquire whether it would be “possible to revoke her student visa”. The failure to follow any established referral process raises serious concerns about political influence in individual immigration decisions. 

On 1 December 2023, the Home Office cancelled Ms Abu Qamar’s student visa on the grounds that her presence in the UK was not ‘conducive to the public good’. Ms Abu Qamar is challenging that decision by way of a Human Rights Appeal in the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), with a substantive hearing listed for 26 – 30 September 2024. As part of the proceedings, the new Labour Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, must now review the decision by 13 September 2024.   

The cancellation decision shows the remarkable lengths to which the Conservative Government used their powers to suppress Pro- Palestinian free speech, including describing ceasefire protests as ‘hate marches’ and calling on universities to refer student activists to Prevent.  Widespread repression of Palestine advocacy has further intensified in recent months with the systematic targeting of students, health care professionals and most recently of journalists.  

Since October 2023, Ms Abu Qamar has lost 22 members of her family in Gaza in the course of Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians. Her public statements during this time reflected the broader struggle of Palestinians under occupation. Since 2006, Israel has imposed a siege on Gaza, which has widely been recognised as unlawful under international law. Gaza has been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967, with approximately 80% of Palestinians in Gaza, including Ms. Abu Qamar’s paternal grandparents, being refugees or descendants of those expelled during the Nakba of 1948.  

Ms Abu Qamar is being supported by the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC). 

Tasnima Uddin of the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) said: 

“For a government minister to personally and arbitrarily intervene to remove a Palestinian student from the country and suppress her speech while her family is being killed in Gaza is truly unconscionable.  

Despite Jenrick’s previous statements about the importance of protecting freedom of expression, he seems perfectly comfortable suppressing speech when it comes to Palestine solidarity, seemingly for ideological purposes and political gains. 

Dana Abu Qamar said: 

The media portrayal of Palestinians and their supporters, often encouraged by the rhetoric of the British government, has too often been influenced by wilful misinformation and misunderstanding of the context of the conflict. This has led to unfair perceptions and mischaracterisations of support for Palestinian resistance. At no point, nor would I ever, condone or advocate for violence committed against civilians. In such challenging times, it is even more important to uphold the principles of lawful freedom of expression to ensure the voices of the Palestinian people, who are living under an illegal occupation, can be heard and understood within the bounds of legality and respect for international humanitarian law.

To be targeted by a Government minister, outside of the established process, for speaking on behalf of a people subjected to such atrocities feels not only unjust – but an attempt to suppress and silence my rights for political reasons and gains.

Support Dana Abu Qamar and Defend Free Speech in our Universities!
We Must Act Now! 

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Press Release

Next trial in the attempted criminalisation of the slogan “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea” in Germany 

The case of Daria

On 22nd August 2024, activist Daria will face her first hearing at the Berlin court Amtsgericht Tiergarten. She is accused of  ‘circulation of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations’ (§ 86 StGB) for chanting the slogan “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea” at a demonstration on the 9th of March 2024. 

Her case does not stand in isolation. Rather, it is one of many that are challenging the attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘’Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’’ by German authorities. This attempt clearly constitutes a political move to control and repress the Palestine solidarity movement in Germany as a whole. 

ELSC Lawyer Nadija Samour is representing Daria at the trial. Nadija Samour comments:  

‘’This is an attack on the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and stands on a shaky legal basis. However, this is a highly political case, the court might seek to forward the case to a higher court by imposing a financial penalty on Daria in this first instance. We will then definitely appeal and expect to win at a higher tribunal.” 

A similar trial had recently raised international attention. Here, a Berlin court sentenced an activist to a fine for chanting ‘Palestine will be free from the river to the sea’ at a demonstration against racism in German schools. The court argued that because the demonstration happened on October 11th, using this slogan would constitute a criminal offence, referring to the ‘endorsement of criminal acts’.  

‘’Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’’ is a call for Palestinian liberation and an end to genocidal settler-colonialism, apartheid, land grabbing and other forms of systematic oppression of the Palestinian people since at least 1948. Israeli officials regularly reiterate the colonial logic to annihilate Palestinian existence on the land between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean Sea, the historic Palestine.  

In the past, German authorities have protected far right Israeli activists using the slogan “From the river to the sea” as a call for Israeli supremacy and the annihilation of Palestine on multiple occasions.  

At the same time, attempts to criminalise the slogan “Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea”, with several instances dating back to as early as 2022, are ever-growing. At the time, the conference of interior ministers had declared that it would test and use all legal measures that allow a criminalisation of the use of the slogan to express Palestine solidarity.  

This led to shocking levels of authoritarian state repression, as Daria explains: 

 ”The risk of a penalty fine is obviously not the most relevant consequence here. Police are using the quite severe offence charges to justify brutal violence against protestors. In the past few months, dozens of people have been beaten to a state of unconsciousness during police crackdowns and had to be hospitalized with severe injuries; some have had their homes raided just for saying “From the river to the sea”.  

The criminalisation of the slogan is clearly an attempt to generate consent for the persecution of the Palestine solidarity movement and ultimately for the genocide in Palestine. More broadly, it is used to cement racist stereotypes and white supremacist mentality in the German societal consciousness. This is meant to pave the way for more fascistic politics, like the practical annulment of human rights for refugees, the police occupation of non-white neighbourhoods and 

 the overall militarisation of police at the cost of defunding education and social services, just to name a few examples.  

The persecution of the Palestine solidarity movement is not an isolated phenomenon but is part of a large-scale fascisation of this country and Europe as a whole, which will be affecting everybody soon enough. Very telling that the German public, of all countries, doesn’t care to recognise where this leads to.” 

German authorities have only been expanding their alarmingly violent measures to suppress the Palestine solidarity movement. German Federal Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser, for instance, has declared the slogan illegal and punishable as a crime with a prison sentence of up to three years by decree in November 2023, but it is usually punished with a fine upon conviction.  

In May 2024, the German Federal Ministry of Justice reiterated Nancy Faeser’s decree and declared the slogan to be a ‘’Hamas slogan’’ and therefore punishable. Merely days after this declaration, the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia banned the group Palestine Solidarity Duisburg over alleged support for Hamas for the group’s use of the slogan. This resulted in several raids of the homes of activists in May 2024.  

The German ministry of Interior is further preparing a draconian migration law, which would effectively end free speech for nationals in Germany who do not carry the citizenship and pave the way for extensive online surveillance of migrants.  

The German parliament seems unwilling to prevent these developments and is preparing a declaration which calls for extensive state repression of anyone vaguely expressing Palestine solidarity through criminalisation, but also through cutting cultural funding and interfering in academic research. 

While much of the repression against the Palestine solidarity movement is issued on a German Federal level, the ruling Government of Germany’s capital Berlin has been particularly eager to press for even more authoritarian measures. The absurd and ineffectual ban of red triangles has raised eyebrows recently. Of outmost concern should be the push to remove students from universities in Berlin, effectively denying the right to education based on political grounds, specifically with relation to Palestine solidarity. 

Nevertheless, attempts to criminalise the slogan have been pushed back against successfully at German courts before. In June 2024, a court in Munich granted a demonstration the right to express the slogan. 

Activists will now accompany Daria’s trial with a rally in front of the courthouse on Thursday August 22 starting at 9:00 am. At a previous hearing in a different case on August 6, a huge group had gathered in support When the defendant left the court, dozens shouted in solidarity: From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. 

For press inquieries, please contact Karim Bohnhoff karim@elsc.support

Der Fall von Daria:

Nächster Prozess zur versuchten Kriminalisierung der Parole „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“ in Deutschland  

Am 22. August 2024 findet die erste Verhandlung gegen die Aktivistin Daria vor dem Berliner Amtsgericht Tiergarten statt. Ihr wird die „Verbreitung von Kennzeichen verfassungswidriger und terroristischer Organisationen“ (§ 86 StGB) vorgeworfen, weil sie bei einer Demonstration am 9. März 2024 die Parole „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“ skandiert hat.  

Das ist kein Einzelfall. Vielmehr steht der Fall in einer Reihe ähnlicher Versuche deutscher Behörden zur Kriminalisierung der Parole „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“. Diese Versuche sind ein eindeutig politisch-motiviertes Manöver zur Kontrolle und Unterdrückung der Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung in Deutschland.  

Die ELSC-Anwältin Nadija Samour vertritt Daria in dem Prozess. Nadija Samour kommentiert:  

“Dies ist ein Angriff auf die Meinungs- und Versammlungsfreiheit und steht auf einer wankenden Rechtsgrundlage. Da es sich jedoch um einen hochpolitischen Fall handelt, könnte das Gericht versuchen, den Fall an ein höheres Gericht weiterzuleiten, indem es Daria in erster Instanz eine Geldstrafe auferlegt. Wir werden dann auf jeden Fall in Berufung gehen und erwarten, dass wir vor einem höheren Gericht gewinnen werden. ” 

Ein ähnlicher Prozess hat vor kurzem internationales Aufsehen erregt. Ein Berliner Gericht verurteilte hierbei einen Aktivisten zu einer Geldstrafe, weil er bei einer Demonstration gegen Rassismus an deutschen Schulen „ Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“ skandierte. Das Gericht argumentierte, dass die Verwendung dieses Slogans eine Straftat darstelle. Da die Demonstration am 11. Oktober stattfand, kurz auf den 7. Oktober, wä­re die Verwendung des Slogans als „Befürwortung von Straftaten“ zu verstehen.  

“Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea” ist ein Aufruf zur Befreiung Palästinas und zur Beendigung des völkermörderischen Siedlerkolonialismus, der Apartheid, des Landraubs und anderer Formen der systematischen Unterdrückung des palästinensischen Volkes seit mindestens 1948. Israelische Beamte bekräftigen regelmäßig die koloniale Absicht, die palästinensische Existenz im gesamten Land zwischen Jordan und Mittelmeer, dem historischen Palästina, zu vernichten.  

In der Vergangenheit haben deutsche Behörden mehrfach rechtsextreme israelische Aktivist:innen geschützt, die den Slogan „Vom Fluss zum Meer“ als Aufruf zur israelischen Vorherrschaft und zur Vernichtung Palästinas verwendeten.  

Gleichzeitig nehmen die Versuche zu, die Parole „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“ zu kriminalisieren, wobei mehrere Fälle bereits in das Jahr 2022 zurückreichen. Zu dem Zeitpunkt hatte die Innenministerkonferenz erklärt, sie werde alle rechtlichen Maßnahmen prüfen und anwenden, die eine Kriminalisierung der Verwendung der Parole als Ausdruck der Palästina-Solidarität ermöglichen.  

Dies führte zu einem schockierenden Ausmaß an autoritärer staatlicher Repression, wie Daria erklärt:  

”Das Risiko eines Bußgeldes ist hier offensichtlich nicht die härteste Konsequenz. Die Polizei rechtfertigt mit den Strafanzeigen brutale Gewalt gegen Demonstrant:innen. In den letzten Monaten wurden Dutzende bei Polizeirazzien bis zur Bewusstlosigkeit geprügelt und mussten mit schweren Verletzungen ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert werden. Bei einigen wurden Hausdurchsuchungen durchgeführt, nur weil sie „Vom Fluss zum Meer“ gesagt hatten.  

Die Kriminalisierung des Slogans ist eindeutig ein Versuch, Zustimmung zur Verfolgung der Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung und letztlich zum Völkermord in Palästina zu mobilisieren. Im weiteren Sinne dient sie dazu, rassistische Stereotypen und White Supremacy-Denkweisen im deutschen gesellschaftlichen Bewusstsein zu zementieren. Damit soll der Weg für weitere faschistische Politik geebnet werden, wie die praktische Aufhebung der Menschenrechte für Geflüchtete, die polizeiliche Belagerung nicht-weißer Stadtviertel und die allgemeine Militarisierung der Polizei auf Kosten von Bildungs- und Sozialleistungen zeigen, um nur einige Beispiele zu nennen.  

Die Verfolgung der Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung ist kein Einzelphänomen, sondern Teil einer großflächigen Faschisierung dieses Landes und Europas insgesamt, die schon bald alle betreffen wird. Es ist sehr bezeichnend, dass ausgerechnet die deutsche Öffentlichkeit nicht erkennen will, wohin das führt.“  

Die deutschen Behörden haben ihre erschreckend gewalttätigen Maßnahmen zur Unterdrückung der Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung nur noch ausgeweitet. So hat Bundesinnenministerin Nancy Faeser die Parole im November 2023 per Erlass für illegal erklärt, die als Straftat mit einer Freiheitsstrafe von bis zu drei Jahren geahndet werden soll, wobei es bei einer Verurteilung jedoch in der Regel zu einer Geldstrafe kommt. 

Im Mai 2024 bekräftigte das deutsche Bundesjustizministerium den Erlass von Nancy Faeser und erklärte die Parole zu einer „Hamas-Parole“ und damit zu einer strafbaren Handlung. Nur wenige Tage nach dieser Erklärung verkündete das Bundesland Nordrhein-Westfalen das Verbot der Gruppe Palästina-Solidarität Duisburg wegen angeblicher Unterstützung der Hamas vor dem Hintergrund ihrer Verwendung der Parole. Dies führte im Mai 2024 zu mehreren Hausdurchsuchungen bei den Aktivist:innen. 

Zudem bereitet das deutsche Innenministerium ein drakonisches Migrationsgesetz vor, welches die freie Meinungsäußerung für nicht-deutsche Staatsangehörige in Deutschland effektiv beendet und den Weg für eine umfassende Online-Überwachung von Migrant*innen ebnet. 

Das deutsche Parlament scheint nicht gewillt zu sein, diese Entwicklungen zu verhindern. Stattdessen bereitet es eine Erklärung vor, in der umfassende staatliche Repressionen gegen jede Person gefordert werden, die auch nur vage  Palästina-Solidarität zum Ausdruck bringt. Diese beinhaltet Kriminalisierung, sowie auch die Streichung von Kulturförderung und Einschnitte in akademische Freiheiten.  

Während ein Großteil der Repressionen gegen die Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung auf bundesdeutscher Ebene erfolgt, hat die Berliner Landesregierung Berlin besonders eifrig auf noch autoritärere Maßnahmen gedrängt. Das absurde und nicht umsetzbare Verbot der roten Dreiecke hat etwa in letzter Zeit für Stirnrunzeln gesorgt. Besonders besorgniserregend ist das Gesetz, welches es erlaubt Student:innen von Berliner Universitäten zu exmatrikulieren und ihnen das Recht auf Bildung aus politischen Gründen, insbesondere im Hinblick auf Palästina-Solidarität, zu verweigern.  

Einige Versuche die Parole zu kriminalisieren, wurden jedoch in der Vergangenheit vor deutschen Gerichten erfolgreich abgewehrt. Im Juni 2024 sprach ein Gericht in München einer Demonstration das Recht zu, die Parole zu rufen.  

Aktivist:innen werden Darias Prozess mit einer Kundgebung vor dem Gerichtsgebäude am Donnerstag, den 22. August ab 9:00 Uhr begleiten. Bei der Anhörung in einem anderen Fall am 6. August hatte sich eine große Gruppe zur Unterstützung versammelt. Als die Angeklagte den Gerichtssaal verließ, wurde sie von Dutzenden solidarisch begrüßt, und es erklang der laute Sprechchor: Palestine will be free from, the river to the sea.

Categories
Press Release

Director of Al-Haq Shawan Jabarin Holds Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera accountable

ALHAQ_Shawan-Jabarin

Joint statement by Al-Haq and ELSC available in English, Arabic, and Italian.

7 August 2024


Il Corriere Della Sera, one of Italy’s most prominent newspapers, has paid around 15,000 Euros in damages to Shawan Jabarin, the General Director of Al-Haq, for falsely accusing him in 2021 of being a terrorist and murderer, an unfounded allegation based on Israeli propaganda and smear campaigns.

What Happened?

On 20 December 2021, Laura Boldrini, an Italian Member of Parliament (MP), invited two representatives from human rights organisations; Al-Haq and Addameer, to a video-conference hearing at the Chamber of Deputies in the Italian Parliament. This hearing was organised in response to Israel’s unlawful criminalization of six Palestinian NGOs, including Al-Haq and Addameer in October 2021. This designation of NGOs as ‘terrorist organisations’ was widely rejected and condemned by EU states and institutions, including Italy, as well as by the United Nations and various international organisations.

However, two days after the hearing, Il Corriere della Sera, Libero Quotidiano, and Il Tempo published articles containing false and defamatory statements about Addameer, Al-Haq, and its General Director, Shawan Jabarin, labelling him a ‘terrorist’. Additionally, the newspapers omitted essential contextual information around Israel’s targeted designation of six Palestinian civil society organisations as ‘terror organisations’, thereby infringing on the readers’ right to access free and impartial information. We believe that the newspaper based its information on unreliable sources and existing smear tactics frequently used by Israel to criminalise, silence, and control Palestinian rights voices, including the circulation of false accusations by Israeli officials. 

Further to this, the lawyer of Mr. Jabarin has been attacked and smeared. We fully reject these accusations and consider them intimidation tactics and character assassination. We stand by our representatives and their right to freedom of expression, and reject the smearing campaigns used by Israel and its allies in weaponizing antisemitism to suppress dissent.

Accountability

After being summoned to Court, Il Corriere Della Sera accepted a settlement agreement, which included compensating Shawan Jabarin for ‘reputational’ damage suffered and publishing an article retracting the defamatory claims. Despite reporting on the incident and retracting the terrorist claim, the newspaper failed to acknowledge that it was their own publication that had defamed Mr. Jabarin. 

This case highlights the critical need for responsible journalism, not only on the situation in Palestine and the violations the Palestinian people are subjected to, but also concerning racist discourse and misinformation. Already in December 2022, ELSC sent a complaint to the Order of Journalists of Lazio and Lombardy, pointing out violations of the deontological obligations of truthfulness and accuracy to which professional journalists are bound. In November 2022, the former condemned the actions of Il Tempo and requested the rectification of the article concerning the case of Shawan Jabarin. Two years later, and considering the two decisions in place, the Order of Journalists of Lombardy has still not issued a ruling, an act indicative of the lack of attention paid by the Italian media to their disclosure responsibilities.

What we want

This legal battle aims to hold media outlets accountable and to support Palestinian voices. Not only have some media outlets been defaming Palestinians, but the Italian mainstream press has also been accused of reporting inaccurate information about the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Israel’s settler-colonial apartheid regime and its commission of international crimes against the Palestinian people as a whole. There is a pressing need to expose and discuss the quality of information in Italy and the right to access impartial information through verified, reliable and unbiased sources.

This legal battle exposes the various tactics used by Israel to smear human rights defenders and is a testament to our collective will and efforts to challenge the suppression of Palestinian voices. It also highlights the complicity of Italian media outlets, which should respect the Italian public’s right to access accurate and credible information about the atrocities committed in Palestine.

Al-Haq’s General Director, Shawan Jabarin will donate the entire sum of the court-ordered compensation to Al-Haq and UNRWA.

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العربية

 صحيفة “كوريري ديلا سيرا” تدفع تعويضات لمدير الحق وتتراجع عن موقفها وحملات التشويه.


دفعت صحيفة “كوريري ديلا سيرا”، إحدى أبرز الصحف الإيطالية، حوالي 15,000 يورو كتعويضات لشعوان جبارين، المدير العام لمؤسسة “الحق”، وذلك بعد دعوى قضائية رفعها جبارين ضد الصحيفة بسبب حملات تشويه قادتها عام 2021 واتهمت خلالها جبارين بأنه إرهابي وقاتل. واستندت الصحيفة خلال حملة التشويه لمعلومات كاذبة وبروباجندا إسرائيلية بعضها من الجهات الرسمية.

كانت قد دعت لورا بولدريني، عضو البرلمان الإيطالي، ممثلين عن مؤسسات حقوق الإنسان، الحق والضمير في 20 ديسمبر/كانون الأول 2021، لحضور جلسة استماع عبر الفيديو في مجلس النواب بالبرلمان الإيطالي. تم تنظيم هذه الجلسة استجابة لتجريم إسرائيل غير القانوني لست مؤسسات مجتمع مدني وحقوق إنسان فلسطينية، ومنها الحق والضمير لرعاية الأسير وحقوق الإنسان، وذلك في أكتوبر/تشرين الأول 2021، حيث صنفت دولة الإحتلال مؤسسات المجتمع المدني كـ”منظمات إرهابية”، الأمر الذي لاقى رفضاً وإدانة من قبل الدول والمؤسسات الأوروبية، بما في ذلك إيطاليا، وكذلك من قبل الأمم المتحدة والعديد من المنظمات الدولية.

ومع ذلك، وبعد يومين من الجلسة، نشرت صحف “كوريري ديلا سيرا” و”ليبيرو كوتيديانو” و”إل تيمبو” مقالات ذات مضمون كاذب ويهدف لتشويه سمعة المؤسسات وبالتحديد مدير مؤسسة الحق، شعوان جبارين، واصفة إياه بـ”الإرهابي”، وأغفلت الصحف معلومات أساسية حول استهداف إسرائيل للمؤسسات المجتمع المدني الفلسطينية وملاحقتها المدافعات والمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان في فلسطين، وهو ما ينتهك حق القراء في الوصول إلى معلومات حرة ومحايدة. استندت الصحيفة في معلوماتها إلى مصادر غير موثوقة وأساليب التشويه المتكررة التي تستخدمها إسرائيل لتجريم وإسكات ومراقبة الأصوات المنادية بحقوق الشعب الفلسطيني، بما في ذلك نشر اتهامات كاذبة من قبل المسؤولين الإسرائيليين.

تعرض مؤخراً محامي السيد جبارين للهجوم والتشويه، الأمر الذي نرفضه تماما ونعتبره أسلوب لتكميم الأفواه وتشويه السمعة، ونعبر عن تضامننا مع ممثلينا وحقهم في حرية التعبير، ونرفض حملات التشويه التي تستخدمها إسرائيل وحلفاؤها واستخدامهم الاتهامات غير صحيحة كمعاداة السامية كوسيلة لقمع الأصوات المنادية بحق الشعب الفلسطيني وتفضح الاستعمار الاستيطاني الاسرائيلي وممارساته القائمة على الفصل العنصري والجرائم الدولية.

تباعا لفتح دعوى قضائية بحق الصحيفة واستدعائها من المحكمة قبلت صحيفة “كوريري ديلا سيرا” اتفاق تسوية تضمن دفع تعويضات للسيد شعوان جبارين وذلك للأضرار التي تسببت بها الصحيفة ولحقها نشر مقال تصحيحي للادعاءات التشهيرية التي نشرت عام 2021. بالرغم المقال التصحيحي، إلا أن الصحفية لم تعترف بأنها هي نفسها التي شوهت سمعة السيد جبارين.

تسلط هذه القضية الضوء على الحاجة الملحة لوجود صحافة مسؤولة وذات بعد نقدي في إيطاليا ودول العالم، وليس فقط حول الوضع في فلسطين والانتهاكات التي يتعرض لها الشعب الفلسطيني، وإنما فيما يتعلق بالخطاب العنصري والمعلومات المضللة حول مواضيع عدة. في ديسمبر 2022، أرسلت “ELSC” شكوى إلى نقابة الصحفيين في لاتسيو ولومباردي، مشيرة إلى انتهاك الصحف التزاماتها الأخلاقية بنشر معلومات صادقة ودقيقة. وفي نوفمبر 2022، أدانت النقابة تصرفات صحيفة “إل تيمبو” وطالبت بتصحيح المقالة المتعلقة بقضية شعوان جبارين. وبعد مرور عامين، وبالرغم من كافة التطورات إلا أن نقابة الصحفيين في لومباردي لم تصدر حكمًا بعد، وهو ما يشير إلى عدم الاهتمام الذي توليه وسائل الإعلام الإيطالية نحو مسؤولياتها.

تهدف هذه الملاحقة القانونية إلى محاسبة وسائل الإعلام ودعم الأصوات الفلسطينية، حيث لم يقتصر الأمر على تشويه وسائل الإعلام للأصوات الفلسطينية فقط، بل إن الصحافة الإيطالية السائدة تستمر في عدم توفير تغطية صحفية كافية ودقيقة حول الإبادة الجماعية المستمرة في قطاع غزة، ونظام الفصل العنصري الاستيطاني الإسرائيلي وارتكابه جرائم دولية ضد الشعب الفلسطيني ككل.

هناك حاجة ملحة للكشف ومناقشة جودة المعلومات في إيطاليا وحق الوصول إلى معلومات محايدة ومهنية ومن مصادر موثوقة ودقيقة. إن هذه القضية تسلط الضوء على الأساليب المختلفة التي تستخدمها إسرائيل لتشويه سمعة المدافعات والمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان، كما تسلط الضوء على تواطؤ وسائل الإعلام الإيطالية، التي يجب أن تحترم حق الجمهور الإيطالي في الوصول إلى معلومات دقيقة وموثوقة حول الفظائع التي تُرتكب في فلسطين.

سيقوم المدير العام لمنظمة الحق،شعوان جبارين ، بالتبرع بكامل مبلغ التعويض الذي أمرت به المحكمة لمنظمة الحق والأونروا.

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ادعمونا في الدعوة إلى حق الفلسطينيين في الوصول إلى الأماكن العامة وشاركوا هذه الرسالة على إنستغرام وتويتر.

[ITA]

Il Corriere della Sera paga 15.000 euro di risarcimento a Shawan Jabarin, direttore di Al-Haq, nota organizzazione per i diritti umani palestinese. 

Il Corriere Della Sera, uno dei più importanti quotidiani italiani, ha pagato circa 15.000 euro di danni a Shawan Jabarin, il direttore generale di Al-Haq, per averlo diffamato nel 2021 accusandolo falsamente di essere un terrorista e un assassino, cosa che ha gravemente danneggiato la sua reputazione.

Cosa è successo?

 Il 20 dicembre 2021, la deputata Laura Boldrini ha invitato i rappresentanti di due organizzazioni palestinesi, Al-Haq e Addameer, a un’audizione in videoconferenza presso la Camera dei Deputati del Parlamento italiano. L’audizione è stata organizzata in risposta alla designazione da parte di Israele di sei ONG palestinesi, tra cui Al-Haq e Addameer, come “organizzazioni terroristiche” nell’ottobre 2021. Questa designazione è stata ampiamente respinta e condannata dagli Stati e dalle istituzioni dell’UE, tra cui l’Italia, nonché dalle Nazioni Unite e da varie organizzazioni internazionali.

Tuttavia, due giorni dopo l’udienza, Il Corriere della Sera, Libero Quotidiano e Il Tempo hanno pubblicato articoli contenenti dichiarazioni inattendibili, imprecise, false e diffamatorie nei confronti di Addameer, Al-Haq e del suo Direttore Generale, Shawan Jabarin, etichettandolo come “terrorista”. Inoltre, i giornali hanno omesso informazioni contestuali essenziali riguardo alla pretestuosa designazione di ad Al Haq e Addameer come organizzazioni terroristiche, violando così il diritto dei lettori di accedere a un’informazione libera e imparziale.

Il nostro risultato:

In seguito alla citazione a giudizio, Il Corriere Della Sera ha accettato un accordo transattivo che prevede il risarcimento dei danni subiti da Shawan Jabarin e la pubblicazione di un articolo che ritrattava le affermazioni diffamatorie. Nell’articolo di rettifica, pur descrivendo la vicenda, il giornale non ha riconosciuto che erano state le sue stesse pagine a diffamare Jabarin. Questo caso evidenzia la necessità cruciale di un giornalismo responsabile, non solo per quanto riguarda il caso palestinese, ma anche per quanto riguarda i pregiudizi razzisti e la sottorappresentazione delle minoranze in Italia.
Già a dicembre 2022, come ELSC, avevamo inviato un esposto all’Ordine dei Giornalisti del Lazio e della Lombardia, segnalando le violazioni agli obblighi deontologici di verità e accuratezza a cui sono tenuti i giornalisti professionisti. Il primo si è espresso a novembre 2022 condannando l’operato de Il Tempo e chiedendo la rettifica dell’articolo che riguardava proprio il caso di Shawan Jabarin. Il fatto che, a distanza di due anni, e di due precedenti decisioni, l’Ordine dei Giornalisti della Lombardia non abbia ancora emesso una deliberazione è indicativo della scarsa attenzione dei media italiani rispetto alle proprie responsabilità divulgative. 

Inoltre, qualche settimana fa, gli stessi media hanno lanciato un altro attacco a Shawan Jabarin e all’avvocato che lo rappresenta, citando erroneamente le parole dell’avvocato e accusandolo di antisemitismo. Respingiamo pienamente queste accuse, utilizzate come tattica diffamatoria. Siamo al fianco dei nostri rappresentanti e del loro diritto alla libertà di espressione e rifiutiamo le tattiche usate da Israele e dai suoi alleati per strumentalizzare l’antisemitismo e reprimere il dissenso.

Questo caso è molto importante perché mette in luce le problematiche del giornalismo italiano. Da diversi mesi la stampa mainstream italiana è accusata di non riportare informazioni corrette rispetto al genocidio in corso in Palestina. Questa battaglia legale ha l’obiettivo di rendere i giornali italiani responsabili per il loro lavoro di disinformazione e sottolinea il nostro impegno nel ritenere i media responsabili e nel sostenere le voci palestinesi.

Il direttore generale di Al-Haq, Shawan Jabarin donerà ad Al-Haq e a UNRWA l’intera somma del risarcimento ordinato dal tribunale.
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Categories
Press Release

Dutch Human Rights Board: Firing of IT Specialist from Gaza who Condemned Israel’s Crimes was Discrimination

PRESS RELEASE – DUTCH BELOW

Amsterdam, 18 June 2024

On June 11, 2024, the Human Rights Board, a state-sanctioned institution in the Netherlands that rules on discrimination cases, ruled that Dutch software company Speakap B.V. discriminated on the basis of political affiliation when it fired N.A. for posts on LinkedIn condemning Israel for committing genocide and war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza. A case for back payment is still pending with the Court of Amsterdam.  

The Ruling

The Board ruled that Speakap directly discriminated on the basis of political affiliation because, according to the termination letter, it fired N.A. because of discomfort that his prospective colleagues would experience at the “strong personal views” he expressed on LinkedIn. The Board agrees with N.A. that “views” refer to his posts about Gaza on LinkedIn. In the eyes of the Board, the company could not prove that it did not discriminate. 

A huge impact on N.A.’s life

N.A. is from Gaza. Several of his relatives and friends had been killed by Israeli attacks at the time of his firing; more have since been killed. His wife and family are still stuck there.

Speakap fired N.A. during his probationary period, just days after hiring him as a software developer. The company went ahead with his dismissal, even though he had expressed a willingness to engage in conversation about his posts.

Forced to apply for asylum

At the time of his firing, N.A. had already given up his job and apartment in Turkey and was forced to fly to the Netherlands to apply for asylum there.  Because of Speakap’s unfair dismissal of N.A., his process to get a residence permit in the Netherlands has been highly impacted, which seriously compromises N.A.’s ability to find a new job in the Netherlands and evacuate his family from Gaza.  

N.A. states the following:

No one should endure such enormous consequences for practicing their legal and internationally recognized right to free speech. No one should be concerned about their ability to aid themselves, their families and their children when standing against what they perceive to be very obviously an immoral, inhumane treatment of others.

Şeyma Arikan, N.A.’s lawyer, says:  

The Board accepts as common knowledge that the convictions of N.A. are widely shared by the public, in particular by people of Palestinian descent. Additionally, the Board notes that the situation pertaining to the human rights of the inhabitants of Palestinian areas has drastically worsened.

Itaï van de Wal, legal officer at the European Legal Support Center, says:  

This is an important victory, both because it is sadly no isolated case and because this moment is so crucial for the Palestinian people. It shows that nobody should be punished for denouncing the genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians by Israel.

Zakaria Boufangacha, vice chair of the largest Dutch labor union federation, FNV, adds:

The union’s position is that we need to fight prohibited discrimination on the basis of political conviction playing a role in terminating employment as much as possible. It hopes that this ruling by the Board contributes to preventing employees being discouraged from exercising their right to freedom of speech.

Read the decision of the Human Rights Board here.

College voor de Rechten van de Mens: ontslag IT specialist uit Gaza die misdaden van Israël veroordeelde was discriminatie. 

Op 11 juni oordeelde het College voor de Rechten van de Mens dat het Nederlandse softwarebedrijf Speakap B.V. discrimineerde op basis van politieke overtuiging toen zij N.A. ontsloeg wegens posts op LinkedIn waarin hij Israël veroordeelt voor het plegen van genocide en oorlogsmisdaden tegen Palestijnen in Gaza. Een loonvorderingsprocedure ligt nog voor bij de Rechtbank van Amsterdam. 

Uitspraak 

Het College oordeelt dat Speakap direct onderscheid maakte op basis van politieke overtuiging omdat het, volgens de ontslagbrief, N.A. ontsloeg vanwege ongemak dat zijn aanstaande collega’s zouden ervaren bij de “sterke persoonlijke opvattingen” die hij uitte op LinkedIn. Het College is het met N.A. eens dat “opvattingen” verwijst naar zijn posts over Gaza op LinkedIn. Het bedrijf kon volgens het College niet aannemelijk maken dat het geen verboden onderscheid maakte. 

Grote impact 

N.A. komt zelf uit Gaza. Meerdere van zijn familieleden en vrienden zijn ten tijde van zijn ontslag gedood door Israëlische aanvallen, inmiddels zijn dat er meer. Zijn vrouw en familie zitten daar nog altijd vast. 

Speakap ontsloeg N.A. in zijn proeftijd, enkele dagen na hem aangenomen te hebben als softwareontwikkelaar. Dit ondanks het feit dat hij zich voor zijn ontslag bereid toonde om over zijn posts in gesprek te gaan met het bedrijf en om eventueel ongemak weg te nemen door posts te verwijderen die dat zouden veroorzaken.  

Gedwongen asielaanvraag 

Op dat moment had N.A. zijn baan en appartement in Turkije al opgezegd en zag hij zich gedwongen om alsnog naar Nederland te vliegen om hier asiel aan te vragen. Als Speakap hem later had ontslagen had hij door een geldige verblijfsvergunning nog een kans gehad om ander werk te zoeken in Nederland en zijn familie uit Gaza te evacueren.  

QUOTES 

N.A. zelf zegt het volgende over het oordeel

Niemand zou zulke enorme gevolgen moeten doorstaan omdat ze hun recht op vrijheid van meningsuiting gebruiken. Niemand zou bang moeten zijn om voor zichzelf, hun familie of hun kinderen op te komen, of om op te staan tegen wat die ziet als de overduidelijke immorele en onmenselijke behandeling van anderen.

 Şeyma Arikan, Advocaat N.A.:

Het College neemt als feit van algemene bekendheid aan dat de opvattingen van cliënt door velen wordt gedragen, in het bijzonder door mensen van Palestijnse afkomst.  Verder merkt het College op dat de mensenrechtelijke situatie van de inwoners van Palestijnse gebieden, met name in Gaza, drastisch is verslechterd.

Itaï van de Wal, juridisch medewerker, European Legal Support Center:  

Dit is een belangrijke overwinning én omdat dit helaas geen op zichzelf staan incident is én omdat dit moment cruciaal is voor Palestijnen. Niemand zou straf moeten krijgen omdat ze zich uitspreken tegen de genocide en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid die Israël pleegt tegen de Palestijnen.

Zakaria Boufangacha, vicevoorzitter FNV, said:  

Wat FNV betreft dient verboden onderscheid op grond van politieke gezindheid bij het beëindigen van een arbeidsovereenkomst zoveel mogelijk bestreden te worden. Zij hoopt dan ook dat dit oordeel van het College ertoe bijdraagt dat werknemers niet ontmoedigd worden om in de toekomst gebruik te maken van hun vrijheid van meningsuiting. 

Categories
Press Release

New Website With Overview of Ties Between Dutch Universities and Israel 

DUTCH VERSION BELOW

Joint Press Release by European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Stop Arms Trade, Solid Sustainability Research, The Rights Forum – Amsterdam, 7 June 2024

Relations with Israel’s military-industrial complex and Israeli human rights violations underline demands from actions at universities

Today, civil society organisations Stop Arms Trade, European Legal Support Center (ELSC) and Solid Sustainability Research published the new website www.academiccomplicity.nl, which provides an overview of all current institutional ties with Israeli entities for all Dutch research universities. With this website, the initiators aim to provide students and staff members taking action at universities in the light of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and calling to end complicit ties, as well as all other interested parties, with a reliable and comprehensive source of information. It reveals over 200 relationships with Israeli companies, universities and government agencies, among others, a significant number of which work with or for the Israeli military.  

The database, compiled in collaboration with students from various Dutch? universities, relies on publicly available information including collaborations in EU-funded research projects, exchange programs and other joint initiatives. 

Israeli partners’ involvement in violence and repression against Palestinians varies.

Most worrying are the collaborations with Israeli military companies, such as Israel Aerospace Industries, which is a major arms supplier to the Israeli armed forces,

says Mark Akkerman (researcher at Stop Arms Trade)

but also with large international arms companies such as Lockheed Martin, Thales and Airbus, which not only supply weapons, but also frequently collaborate with the Israeli arms industry. This arms industry, closely linked to the military, is highly regarded on the international market, where it advertises weapons as ‘combat proven’, or, in other words, ‘tested on Palestinians’.

 Itaï van de Wal, from ELSC, adds: 

Israeli universities are also deeply embedded in apartheid, occupation and Israel’s military-industrial complex. They produce the knowledge and skills to keep these systems of oppression against Palestinians running, in concert with the military, the state and industry. A number of universities train officers and campuses also lend themselves to military purposes.

Michiel Bot, from Dutch Scholars for Palestine, says:

The complicity of Israeli universities in the occupation, apartheid, and now genocide is not limited to the development of military technology. For example, law faculties are developing doctrines to justify flagrant violations of international law; international relations institutes develop strategic doctrines that legitimize the periodic bombing of Gaza (“Mowing the Grass in Gaza”); archeology departments erase traces of non-Jewish culture in Palestine; students engage in state propaganda on social media.

Access the website here: https://academiccomplicity.nl   

Nieuwe website met overzicht banden tussen Nederlandse universiteiten en Israël

7 juni 2024 – Vanaf vandaag is de nieuwe website academiccomplicity.nl online, die per Nederlandse universiteit een overzicht geeft van alle actuele institutionele banden met aan genocide en andere misdaden medeplichtige Israëlische instellingen en bedrijven. Met deze website willen de initiatiefnemers – Stop Wapenhandel, European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) en Solid Sustainability Research – studenten en stafleden die op de universiteiten in actie komen voor het beëindigen van deze banden en alle andere geïnteresseerden van een betrouwbare en zo compleet mogelijke informatiebron voorzien. Het gaat in totaal om ruim 200 relaties met onder meer Israëlische bedrijven, universiteiten en overheidsinstellingen, waarvan een aanzienlijk deel werkt met of voor de Israëlische krijgsmacht. 

Itaï van de Wal van het ELSC: “Studenten en medewerkers zetten zich al jarenlang in voor de openbaarheid en beschikbaarheid van de banden met medeplichtige partners die ze aan de kaak stellen. Met deze website zetten we een grote stap naar het voor iedereen vindbaar en overzichtelijk maken deze informatie. Mensen kunnen op academiccomplicity.nl de omvang van het probleem inzien en informatie vinden over waarom partners medeplichtig worden geacht.”

De database, die is samengesteld in samenwerking met studenten en staf van diverse Nederlandse universiteiten, baseert zich op openbaar beschikbare informatie over onder andere samenwerkingen in door de EU gefinancierde onderzoeksprojecten, uitwisselingsprogramma’s en andere gezamenlijke initiatieven.

De betrokkenheid van de Israëlische partners bij geweld en onderdrukking tegen Palestijnen variëert. “Meest zorgelijk zijn de samenwerkingen met Israëlische militaire bedrijven, zoals Israel Aerospace Industries, een belangrijke wapenleverancier voor de Israëlische krijgsmacht,”, aldus Mark Akkerman (onderzoeker bij Stop Wapenhandel), “maar eveneens die met grote internationale wapenbedrijven als Lockheed Martin, Thales en Airbus, die niet alleen wapens leveren maar ook frequent samenwerken met de Israëlische wapenindustrie”. Deze nauw met de krijgsmacht verbonden wapenindustrie staat hoog aangeschreven op de internationale markt, waar het wapens aanprijst als ‘combat proven’, oftewel: ‘getest op Palestijnen’. 

Michiel Bot van Dutch Scholars for Palestine vult aan: “De medeplichtigheid van Israëlische universiteiten aan de bezetting, de apartheid, en nu aan de genocide beperkt zich niet tot het ontwikkelen van militaire technologie. Zo ontwikkelen rechtenfaculteiten doctrines om flagrante schendingen van het internationale recht goed te praten; ontwikkelen instituten voor internationale betrekkingen strategische doctrines die de periodieke bombardementen op Gaza legitimeren (“Mowing the Grass in Gaza”); wissen archeologie afdelingen sporen van niet-joodse cultuur in Palestina uit; schrijven geschiedenisafdelingen Palestijnen uit de geschiedenis; en laten universiteiten studenten staatspropaganda bedrijven op social media.”

Categories
Press Release

BREAKING-Booking.com Sued for Laundering Profits from Israeli War Crimes in Palestine

Press release – 23 May 2024, Amsterdam

DUTCH VERSION BELOW & ARABIC VERSION HERE

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Al-Haq, SOMO and The Rights Forum have filed a criminal complaint to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service to hold Booking.com to account for profiting from the commission of war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT).

This case is being brought after years of research into Booking.com’s activities in illegal Israeli settlements as part of a longer trajectory of actions on businesses profiting from abuse in OPT. By facilitating the rental of vacation homes on land stolen from the indigenous Palestinian population, Booking.com profits from war crimes.

‘Profits from illegal Israeli settlements flow into the Dutch financial system via Booking.com listings’

Profiting from war crimes is illegal under Dutch criminal law, specifically article 1 (4) of the Dutch International Crimes Act (Wet Internationale Misdijven). By profiting from serious violations of international humanitarian law, Booking.com is bringing proceeds of crime into the Dutch financial system – which means that the company is guilty of money laundering, the claimants assert. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has a duty to safeguard the integrity of the Dutch financial system by prosecuting this conduct.

Booking.com is aware of the legal risks involved in these activities yet opted to continue offering accommodations in illegal settlements. The company for this reason has been blacklisted by the UN Human Rights Council since 2020. Reports by human rights organisations, including  Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have highlighted the complicity of the tourism industry in illegal Israeli settlements.

‘The goal is to end corporate impunity surrounding profiting from illegal Israeli settlements’

With this criminal complaint, our organisations aim to end Booking.com’s involvement in international crimes on stolen Palestinian land. We also aim to end the climate of corporate impunity surrounding profiting from Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law.

Settlements are illegal under international law, based on systematic human rights violations, and acts amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity and are harmful to any prospect of justice and peace. The International Criminal Court in The Hague is investigating Israeli settlement construction and European governments have clearly warned companies under their jurisdiction about the legal risks stemming from operating in illegal Israeli settlements. The Dutch government claims to discourage companies from doing business in them, and explicitly puts the responsibility to conform to the law on companies themselves.

The world is witnessing a brutal aggression against the Palestinian people. The International Court of Justice has warned of ‘plausible’ genocide being committed against Palestinians in Gaza. At the same time, repression and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has reached unprecedented levels, with record amounts of land being stolen for the construction and expansion of illegal settlements. Bringing to account individuals and corporations complicit in and profiting from these crimes is today more urgent than ever before.

Early May, SOMO asked Booking.com for its response to research findings regarding its involvement in Israeli settlements and the legal implications thereof. In its response, Booking.com states that it “wholeheartedly disagree[s]” with our “allegations of illegal activity.” The company does not engage with the accusation of money laundering and claims that there are no laws prohibiting listings in Israeli settlements. Instead, they claim that U.S. laws would prohibit Booking.com from divesting from Israeli settlements.

Dr Susan Power from Al-Haq warned that,

Booking.com is exploiting Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Palestinian people for commercial profit. Palestinians are subjugated, tortured and killed under Israel’s brutal settler colonial apartheid regime. By profiting from the illegal settlement enterprise, Booking.com benefits from the systematic deprivation of the Palestinian people of their lands and natural resources, entrenches the apartheid regime, and frustrates the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to exercise self-determination. This is the ultimate denial of freedom. We demand that Booking.com stop violating the law.

The company’s involvement in Israeli violations of international law also contravenes widely recognised business and human rights (BHR) norms, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which the company explicitly claims to respect.

added Lydia de Leeuw from SOMO.

We have been working on this complaint for years, responding to calls of Palestinians who have seen their property being stolen to end up as profitable vacation homes for settlers on Booking.com. Efforts by human rights groups, activists, and even concerned employees within the company, to warn the company about its operations in the OPT have been systematically ignored. These unlawful operations support a system of settler-colonialism and racial domination that amounts to apartheid, but companies profiting from those violations and facilitating them hardly face legal scrutiny. This is unacceptable and must stop.

said Daan de Grefte, Legal Officer at the ELSC.

The Dutch government refuses to take meaningful action against the continued colonization of occupied Palestinian land, or against Dutch companies profiting from these crimes. It’s time to end this impunity and expose the extent of the harm that operations of companies like Booking.com inflict on the indigenous Palestinian population.

said Edwin van ‘t Pad from The Rights Forum.

West Bank settlements are clearly established by war crimes. Profiting from these illicit economies means profiting from war crimes. Dutch criminal law is very clear: profiting from war crimes is illegal and can be qualified as money laundering. There is no doubt that Booking.com is aware of the illegality of these settlements. They have been requested by numerous actors, on multiple occasions, to stop their operations on stolen Palestinian land. This criminal complaint is a measure of last resort. We expect this case to serve as an example to other companies profiting from war crimes.

said Willem Jebbink, attorney at Jebbink Soeteman Advocaten.

This case was launched with the support of the PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy). 

READ MORE IN OUR Q&A

SUPPORT THE CASE HERE

Aangifte tegen Booking.com voor het witwassen van winsten uit Israëlische oorlogsmisdaden in Palestina

Het European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Al-Haq, SOMO en The Rights Forum hebben aangifte gedaan bij het Nederlandse Openbaar Ministerie om Booking.com ter verantwoording te roepen voor het profiteren van oorlogsmisdrijven in Bezet Palestijns Gebied.

Deze aangifte is de uitkomst van jaren van onderzoek naar de activiteiten van Booking.com in illegale Israëlische nederzettingen. Door de verhuur van vakantiehuizen mogelijk te maken op grond die gestolen is van de Palestijnse bevolking, profiteert Booking.com van oorlogsmisdrijven.

‘Winsten uit illegale Israëlische nederzettingen vloeien via Booking.com-aanbiedingen het Nederlandse financiële systeem binnen’

Het profiteren van oorlogsmisdrijven is verboden volgens het Nederlandse strafrecht, zoals bevestigd in artikel 1 (4) van de ‘Wet Internationale Misdrijven’. Door te profiteren van ernstige schendingen van het oorlogsrecht, brengt Booking.com de opbrengsten van misdaden in het Nederlandse financiële systeem – wat betekent dat het bedrijf schuldig is aan witwassen, aldus de organisaties. Het Nederlandse Openbaar Ministerie heeft de taak de integriteit van het Nederlandse financiële systeem te waarborgen door dit gedrag te vervolgen.

Booking.com is zich bewust van de juridische risico’s die aan deze activiteiten verbonden zijn, maar heeft ervoor gekozen om accommodaties in illegale nederzettingen te blijven aanbieden. Het bedrijf staat om deze reden sinds 2020 op de zwarte lijst van de VN Mensenrechtenraad. Rapporten van mensenrechtenorganisaties, waaronder Amnesty International en Human Rights Watch, hebben de medeplichtigheid van de toerisme-industrie aan illegale Israëlische nederzettingen benadrukt.

‘Het doel is om de straffeloosheid van bedrijven rond het profiteren van illegale Israëlische nederzettingen te beëindigen’

Met deze aangifte streven onze organisaties ernaar de betrokkenheid van Booking.com bij internationale misdaden op gestolen Palestijns land te beëindigen. We streven er ook naar om een einde te maken aan de straffeloosheid van bedrijven rond het profiteren van de schendingen van internationaal recht door Israël.

Nederzettingen zijn illegaal volgens het internationaal recht. Ze zijn tot stand gekomen door systematische mensenrechtenschendingen en daden die neerkomen op oorlogsmisdaden en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid. De nederzettingen zijn schadelijk voor elke kans op rechtvaardigheid en vrede. Het Internationaal Strafhof in Den Haag onderzoekt de bouw van Israëlische nederzettingen en Europese regeringen hebben duidelijk gewaarschuwd voor de juridische risico’s voor bedrijven als ze opereren in illegale Israëlische nederzettingen. De Nederlandse regering beweert bedrijven te ontmoedigen zaken te doen in nederzettingen en legt expliciet de verantwoordelijkheid om zich aan de wet te houden bij bedrijven zelf.

De wereld is getuige van een nietsontziende aanval op Palestijnen. Het Internationaal Gerechtshof acht het “plausibel” dat Israël genocide pleegt op Palestijnen in Gaza. Tegelijkertijd hebben de onderdrukking en het geweld tegen Palestijnen op de Westelijke Jordaanoever ongekende niveaus bereikt, met een record aan Palestijns land dat wordt gestolen voor de bouw en uitbreiding van illegale nederzettingen. Het ter verantwoording roepen van individuen en bedrijven die medeplichtig zijn aan en profiteren van deze misdaden is urgenter dan ooit tevoren.

Begin mei heeft SOMO Booking.com om haar reactie gevraagd op onderzoeksresultaten over haar betrokkenheid bij Israëlische nederzettingen en de juridische implicaties daarvan. In haar reactie stelt Booking.com dat het bedrijf het “volledig oneens” is met onze “beschuldigingen van illegale activiteiten”. Het bedrijf gaat niet in op de beschuldiging van het witwassen van geld en beweert dat er geen wetten zijn die vermeldingen in Israëlische nederzettingen verbieden. In plaats daarvan beweert Booking.com dat Amerikaanse wetgeving Booking.com hen zou verbieden te desinvesteren uit Israëlische nederzettingen.

Dr. Susan Power van Al-Haq waarschuwde dat

Booking.com Israëls oorlogsmisdrijven en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid tegen het Palestijnse volk uitbuit voor economisch gewin. Palestijnen worden onderworpen, gemarteld en gedood onder het wrede koloniale apartheidsregime van Israël. Door te profiteren van de illegale nederzettingeneconomie, profiteert Booking.com van de systematische beroving van het Palestijnse volk van hun land en natuurlijke hulpbronnen, verankert het het apartheidsregime en frustreert het de onvervreemdbare rechten van het Palestijnse volk om zelfbeschikking uit te oefenen. Dit is de ultieme ontkenning van vrijheid. We eisen dat Booking.com stopt met het overtreden van de wet.

De betrokkenheid van het bedrijf bij Israëls schendingen van het internationaal recht is ook in strijd met algemeen erkende normen aangaande bedrijven en mensenrechten, zoals de VN Principes voor Bedrijven en Mensenrechten en de OECD Richtlijnen voor Multinationale Ondernemingen, waarvan het bedrijf expliciet verklaart ze te respecteren.

voegde Lydia de Leeuw van SOMO toe.

We werken al jaren aan deze aangifte, als reactie op oproepen van Palestijnen die hebben gezien hoe hun eigendommen worden gestolen om als winstgevende vakantiehuizen voor kolonisten op Booking.com te eindigen. Inspanningen van mensenrechtenorganisaties, activisten en zelfs bezorgde werknemers binnen het bedrijf, om het bedrijf te waarschuwen voor zijn operaties in de nederzettingen, zijn systematisch genegeerd. Deze onwettige operaties ondersteunen een systeem van koloniale overheersing en etnische onderdrukking dat neerkomt op apartheid, maar bedrijven die profiteren van die schendingen en ze faciliteren wordt geen stroobreed in de weg gelegd. Dit is onaanvaardbaar en moet stoppen.

zei Daan de Grefte, juridisch medewerker bij het ELSC.

 De Nederlandse regering weigert om effectieve actie te ondernemen tegen de voortdurende kolonisatie van bezet Palestijns land, of tegen Nederlandse bedrijven die profiteren van deze misdaden. Het is tijd om deze straffeloosheid te beëindigen en de omvang van het leed dat de operaties van bedrijven als Booking.com toebrengen aan de inheemse Palestijnse bevolking bloot te leggen.

zei Edwin van ‘t Pad van The Rights Forum. 

De nederzettingen op de Westelijke Jordaanoever zijn duidelijk tot stand gekomen door oorlogsmisdaden. Profiteren van deze illegale economieën betekent profiteren van oorlogsmisdaden. Het Nederlandse strafrecht is heel duidelijk: profiteren van oorlogsmisdaden is illegaal en kan worden aangemerkt als witwassen. Er bestaat geen twijfel dat Booking.com op de hoogte is van de onwettigheid van deze nederzettingen. Ze zijn door tal van actoren, op meerdere momenten, verzocht om te stoppen met hun activiteiten op gestolen Palestijns land. Deze aangifte is een laatste redmiddel. We verwachten dat deze zaak als voorbeeld zal dienen voor andere bedrijven die profiteren van oorlogsmisdaden.

aldus Willem Jebbink, advocaat bij Jebbink Soeteman Advocaten.

READ THE ARABIC VERSION OF THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Categories
Press Release

Anti-Palestinian Surveillance in Germany: New Hearing in the Case of Dr Anna Younes

GERMAN VERSION BELOW/DEUTSCHE ÜBERSETZUNG UNTEN

Today 12 April 2024, Dr Anna-E. Younes is challenging anti-Palestinian organisations RIAS Berlin and MBR (Mobile Beratungsstelle gegen Rechts) in the Berlin District Court (Landgericht Berlin) with the support of the ELSC.

Dr Anna Younes is a German Palestinian scholar working on the ‘New Antisemitism’ discourse, race critical theories and settler-/colonial theories. Like many others she has already been subjected to several disinformation campaigns, publicly defamed, censored and unfairly excluded from public and academic spaces way before 2019. In 2019, however, Dr Younes discovered that a secret dossier which selectively draws on certain publications of hers and takes them out of context, was written up and distributed  by RIAS/MBR  in order to get her disinvited from public speaking engagements. Said dossier had been privately passed on to people in die Linke and distorted her work or articles to make defamatory statements about her, including by framing her as an anti-Jewish racist and sexist terrorist sympathizer. Subsequently, Dr Younes was disinvited from a panel discussion on right-wing extremism and anti-Muslim racism organised by the Berlin chapter of Die Linke where she was supposed to present her work on anti-Muslim racism and right-wing networks in Germany.

In violation of European data protection law, Dr Younes was surveilled for her scholarship and activism, causing her loss of employment, reputational damage, as well as an uncanny repetition of surveillance strategies as known from German history. Dr. Younes, the ELSC and her lawyers argue that the creation and circulation of RIAS’ secret dossier – without Dr. Younes’ knowledge or consent – gravely infringed upon her right to privacy, freedom of expression, and academic freedom and amounts to digital surveillance. More importantly, her case does not stand in isolation; it rather unmasks the multiple layers of systematic repression that have been silencing and criminalising Palestinian voices in Germany for a long time. Beyond that, this case is also crucial as it testifies to the importance of halting further infringements on the right to privacy and to free political expression of political minorities, such as anti-war and anti-capitalist movements or climate activists.

Concerned about the consequences of this repressive surveillance for herself and other academics, activists or journalists, Dr Younes reached out to the ELSC and took legal action. 

Nearly two years ago, the Berlin District Court upheld Dr Younes’ claims and ordered VDK – the German state-funded organisation that legally represents RIAS Berlin and MBR – to give Dr Anna Younes access to the data that the two organisations had secretly gathered and disseminated. The information released by VDK revealed that RIAS Berlin and MBR had been collecting people’s personal data based on their ‘positions on Israel and BDS’. 

Dr Younes and her lawyer now expect the court to order RIAS/MBR to pay damages for the harm suffered by Dr Younes for more than two years. Not only should RIAS/MBR pay damages for having violated Dr Younes’ right to information, as confirmed by the first instance court, but also for the unlawful collection and dissemination of a dossier aiming to damage her reputation.

Dr Younes’ lawyer, Alexander Gorski, said: 

This legal battle is about making sure that state-funded organisations such as RIAS Berlin and MBR are held accountable for their repressive practices which have extreme consequences for individuals’ reputation and fundamental rights and freedoms. This must stop.

In March 2024, RIAS (the federal organisation whereof RIAS Berlin forms the local Berlin branch) released their report on ‘Anti-Semitism within BDS’, which enacts yet another targeted attack against the BDS movement and its supporters. Furthermore, RIAS also continues to use unfounded allegations of antisemitism and support of terrorism to further repress Palestine solidarity as well as turning the important category of anti-Jewish racism to mean nothing but “critical of Israeli politics” thereby enabling a dangerous and deeply racist hollowing out of what we mean by anti-Jewish racism. Finally, within that vein, RIAS also confirms its use of the harmful and widely criticized ‘IHRA definition of antisemitism’ to assess incidents of antisemitism.

It is obvious that organisations like RIAS are instrumentalizing the fight against anti-Jewish racism to platform a discourse aimed at repressing and erasing Palestinian voices and anti- or de-colonial narratives, especially at a moment when a wide range of individuals and groups in German civil society are raising their voice against the ongoing genocide and against Germany’s support of Israel’s settler violence. – said Dr Younes.

The decision from the judge is expected within a few weeks.

Read more about the case

Antipalästinensische Überwachung in Deutschland: neue Anhörung im Fall von Dr. Anna Younes

Heute, am 12. April 2024, klagt Dr. Anna-E. Younes mit Unterstützung der ELSC gegen die antipalästinensischen Organisationen RIAS Berlin und MBR (Mobile Beratungsstelle gegen Rechts) vor dem Landgericht Berlin.

Dr. Anna Younes ist eine deutsch-palästinensische Wissenschaftlerin, die sich mit dem “Neuen Antisemitismus”-Diskurs, rassenkritischen Theorien und Siedler-/Kolonialtheorien beschäftigt. Wie viele andere war sie bereits vor 2019 mehreren Desinformationskampagnen ausgesetzt, wurde öffentlich diffamiert, zensiert und zu Unrecht aus dem öffentlichen und akademischen Raum ausgeschlossen. Im Jahr 2019 entdeckte Dr. Younes jedoch, dass ein geheimes Dossier, das sich selektiv auf bestimmte Veröffentlichungen von ihr stützt und diese aus dem Zusammenhang reißt, vom RIAS/MBR erstellt und verbreitet wurde, um sie von öffentlichen Auftritten auszuladen. Dieses Dossier wurde privat an Personen in der Partei Die Linke weitergegeben und verfälschte ihre Arbeit oder Artikel, um diffamierende Aussagen über sie zu machen, unter anderem indem sie als antijüdische, rassistische und sexistische Terroristensympathisantin dargestellt wurde. In der Folge wurde Dr. Younes von einer Podiumsdiskussion über Rechtsextremismus und antimuslimischen Rassismus ausgeladen, die von der Berliner Sektion der Partei Die Linke organisiert wurde und auf der sie ihre Arbeit über antimuslimischen Rassismus und rechte Netzwerke in Deutschland vorstellen sollte.

Unter Verstoß gegen das europäische Datenschutzrecht wurde Dr. Younes wegen ihrer wissenschaftlichen Arbeit und ihres Engagements überwacht, was zum Verlust ihres Arbeitsplatzes und zur Schädigung ihres Rufes führte und eine unheimliche Wiederholung der aus der deutschen Geschichte bekannten Überwachungsstrategien darstellt. Der Fall, den Dr. Younes, die ELSC und ihre Anwälte aufgebaut haben, argumentiert, dass die Erstellung und Verbreitung des geheimen Dossiers des RIAS – ohne Dr. Younes’ Wissen oder Zustimmung – ihr Recht auf Privatsphäre, freie Meinungsäußerung und akademische Freiheit schwerwiegend verletzt hat und einer digitalen Überwachung gleichkommt. Noch wichtiger ist, dass ihr Fall nicht isoliert dasteht, sondern vielmehr die vielen Ebenen der systematischen Unterdrückung aufdeckt, die palästinensische Stimmen in Deutschland seit langem zum Schweigen bringen und kriminalisieren. Darüber hinaus ist dieser Fall auch deshalb so entscheidend, weil er zeigt, wie wichtig es ist, weitere Verstöße gegen das Recht auf Privatsphäre und freie politische Meinungsäußerung von politischen Minderheiten wie Antikriegs- und antikapitalistischen Bewegungen oder Klimaaktivisten zu unterbinden.

Besorgt über die Folgen dieser repressiven Überwachung für sie selbst und andere Akademiker, Aktivisten oder Journalisten wandte sich Dr. Younes an die ELSC und erhob rechtliche Schritte. 

Vor fast zwei Jahren gab das Landgericht Berlin den Klagen von Dr. Younes statt und ordnete an, dass der VdK – die deutsche staatlich finanzierte Organisation, die RIAS Berlin und MBR rechtlich vertritt – Dr. Anna Younes Zugang zu den Daten gewährt, die die beiden Organisationen heimlich gesammelt und verbreitet hatten. Die von der VdK herausgegebenen Informationen enthüllten, dass RIAS Berlin und MBR personenbezogene Daten von Personen auf der Grundlage ihrer “Positionen zu Israel und BDS” gesammelt hatten. 

Dr. Younes und ihr Anwalt erwarten nun, dass das Gericht den RIAS/MBR zur Zahlung von Schadenersatz für den Schaden verurteilt, den Dr. Younes mehr als zwei Jahre lang erlitten hat. Der RIAS/MBR sollte nicht nur Schadensersatz dafür zahlen, dass das Recht von Dr. Younes auf Information verletzt wurde, wie das erstinstanzliche Gericht bestätigt hat, sondern auch für die unrechtmäßige Sammlung und Verbreitung eines Dossiers, das darauf abzielt, ihren Ruf zu schädigen.

Dr. Younes’ Anwalt, Alexander Gorski, sagte: 

In diesem Rechtsstreit geht es darum, sicherzustellen, dass staatlich finanzierte Organisationen wie RIAS Berlin und MBR für ihre repressiven Praktiken zur Rechenschaft gezogen werden, die extreme Auswirkungen auf den Ruf und die Grundrechte und -freiheiten des Einzelnen haben. Das muss aufhören.

Im März 2024 veröffentlichte RIAS (die Bundesorganisation, deren Ortsgruppe in Berlin RIAS Berlin ist) ihren Bericht über “Antisemitismus in BDS”, der einen weiteren gezielten Angriff auf die BDS-Bewegung und ihre UnterstützerInnen darstellt. Darüber hinaus nutzt RIAS weiterhin unbegründete Vorwürfe des Antisemitismus und der Unterstützung des Terrorismus, um die Solidarität mit Palästina weiter zu unterdrücken und die wichtige Kategorie des antijüdischen Rassismus auf nichts anderes als “kritisch gegenüber israelischer Politik” zu reduzieren, wodurch eine gefährliche und zutiefst rassistische Auslöschung dessen ermöglicht wird, was wir unter antijüdischem Rassismus verstehen. Schließlich bestätigt RIAS in diesem Zusammenhang auch die Verwendung der schädlichen und weithin kritisierten “IHRA-Definition von Antisemitismus”, um Vorfälle von Antisemitismus zu bewerten.

Es ist offensichtlich, dass Organisationen wie RIAS den Kampf gegen antijüdischen Rassismus instrumentalisieren, um einem Diskurs eine Plattform zu bieten, der darauf abzielt, palästinensische Stimmen und anti- oder de-koloniale Narrative zu unterdrücken und auszulöschen, insbesondere zu einem Zeitpunkt, an dem ein breites Spektrum von Einzelpersonen und Gruppen in der deutschen Zivilgesellschaft ihre Stimme gegen den anhaltenden Völkermord und gegen Deutschlands Unterstützung der israelischen Siedlergewalt erhebt

– so Dr. Younes.

Die Entscheidung des Richters wird in den nächsten Wochen erwartet.

Categories
Press Release

Legal Action to Stop Arms Exports from Germany to Israel

GERMAN VERSION BELOW/DEUTSCHE ÜBERSETZUNG UNTEN

Press release – ELSC (European Legal Support Center), PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy), Law for Palestine under the Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative, and Forensis.

Berlin – 5 April 2024

On April 5, 2024, Berlin lawyers are filing an urgent application against the German government to stop the approval of war weapons exports to Israel. The urgent appeal is being filed by Palestinians in Gaza who are demanding an immediate halt to the supply of weapons to Israel. As there is reason to believe that these weapons are being used to commit grave violations of international law, such as the crime of genocide and war crimes, the applicants are hereby demanding that the German government protect their right to life.

In 2023, the German government issued arms exports licenses to Israel worth 326.5 million Euro, the majority of which were approved after October 7, 2023, a tenfold increase compared to 2022. The German government is currently supporting the Israeli army by approving the supply of 3,000 portable anti-tank weapons, 500,000 rounds of ammunition for machine guns, submachine guns or other fully or semi-automatic firearms, as well as other military equipment, while in early 2024 Germany was preparing the authorisation of 10,000 rounds of 120mm tank ammunition. In addition, Germany authorised Israel to use two of the five TP-Heron combat drones that they had previously leased. A comprehensive report recently published by Forensis, Forensic Architecture’s Berlin-based affiliate, that brings together governmental records with data from monitoring groups and other initiatives, provides significant additional insights on past, current, and potential future arms exports from Germany to Israel.

As early as February 23, 2024, Palestinians filed criminal charges against members of the German government for aiding genocide in Gaza. The urgent application is therefore only logical: the arms deliveries and support provided by the Federal Government to Israel violate the Federal Republic’s obligations under the War Weapons Control Act. The criteria for the approval of arms exports include, among other things, that the weapons are not used against Germany’s obligations of the international law, in this case that Israel does not violate human rights and international humanitarian law. Since the ICJ in its decision of January 26, 2024 already sees evidence of genocide in Gaza, the Lawyers’ Collective believes that the delivery of weapons is contrary to these obligations. A Dutch court of appeal also ruled on February 26, 2024 that the delivery of F-35 spare parts to Israel must be stopped. The aim of the urgent motion is therefore to immediately stop future approvals of weapons of war deliveries to Israel and to revoke approvals that have already been granted.

SUPPORT THE CASE

Eilantrag gegen Waffenexporte von Deutschland nach Israel

Pressemitteilung von ELSC (European Legal Support Center), PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy), Law for Palestine, Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative und Forensis.

Berlin – 5.4.2024

Am 5. April 2024 reichen Berliner Anwält:innen einen Eilantrag beim Verwaltungsgericht in Berlin gegen die Bundesregierung ein, um die Genehmigung von Kriegswaffenexporten nach Israel zu stoppen. Der Eilantrag wird von Palästinenser:innen in Gaza gestellt, die eine sofortige Einstellung der Waffenlieferungen an Israel fordern. Da Grund zu der Annahme besteht, dass die Waffen für Völkerrechtsverletzungen wie Völkermord und Kriegsverbrechen eingesetzt werden, verfolgen die Antragsteller:innen ihren Rechtsanspruch, dass die Bundesregierung ihr Recht auf Leben schützen muss.

Im Jahr 2023 genehmigte die Bundesregierung Rüstungsexporte nach Israel im Wert von 326,5 Millionen Euro, die meisten davon nach dem 7. Oktober 2023. Im Vergleich zu 2022 verzehnfachten sich damit die Rüstungsexporte. Aktuell unterstützt die Bundesregierung die israelische Armee, indem sie die Lieferung von 3.000 tragbaren Panzerabwehrwaffen, 500.000 Schuss Munition für Maschinengewehre, Maschinenpistolen oder andere voll- oder halbautomatische Schusswaffen sowie weiteren Rüstungsgütern genehmigt. Anfang 2024 hat die Bundesregierung die Exportbewilligung von 10.000 Schuss Panzermunition geprüft. Außerdem genehmigte Deutschland Israel die Nutzung von zuvor geleasten TP-Heron-Kampfdrohnen. Darüber hinaus liefert ein umfassender Bericht, der kürzlich von Forensis – die in Berlin ansässige Schwesteragentur von Forensic Architecture – veröffentlicht wurde und Informationen aus Regierungsdokumenten mit Daten unabhängiger Monitoring-Gruppen zusammenführt, entscheidende Erkenntnisse hinsichtlich vergangener, gegenwärtiger und möglicherweise zukünftiger Rüstungs- und Waffenexporte von Deutschland nach Israel.

Bereits am 23. Februar 2024 stellten Palästinenser:innen Strafanzeige gegen Mitglieder der Bundesregierung wegen Beihilfe zum Völkermord in Gaza. Der Eilantrag ist daher nur folgerichtig: Die Waffenlieferungen und Unterstützungsleistungen der Bundesregierung an Israel verstoßen gegen die Verpflichtungen der Bundesrepublik aus dem Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz.  Zu den Kriterien für die Genehmigung von Waffenexporten gehört unter anderem, dass die Waffen nicht gegen die Verpflichtungen des Bundes aus dem Völkerrecht eingesetzt werden, in diesem Fall, dass Israel nicht gegen die Menschenrechte und das humanitäre Völkerrecht verstößt. Da der IGH in seiner Entscheidung vom 26. Januar 2024 bereits Anhaltspunkte für einen Völkermord in Gaza sieht, steht hier nach Ansicht des Anwält:innenkollektivs zu befürchten, dass die Waffenlieferung diesen Verpflichtungen entgegen stehen. Auch ein niederländisches Berufungsgericht hat bereits am 26. Februar 2024 entschieden, dass die Lieferung von F-35-Ersatzteilen an Israel gestoppt werden müssen. Ziel des Eilantrags ist es daher, künftige Genehmigungen für Kriegswaffenlieferungen an Israel sofort zu stoppen und bereits erteilte Genehmigungen zu widerrufen.

Categories
Press Release

Accountability Now: Palestinians Sue German Government Officials for Enabling the Genocide in Gaza

GERMAN VERSION BELOW/DEUTSCHE ÜBERSETZUNG UNTEN

Berlin – 23 February 2024

Today, a group of German lawyers – representing families of two Gazans – is filing a criminal complaint against German Government officials (1), for the crime of aiding and abetting genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza by providing Israel with weapons and issuing related export permissions. They are supported by civil society organisations ELSC (European Legal Support Center), PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy) and Law for Palestine under the Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative. The charges are being filed at the Office of the Federal Prosecutor in Karlsruhe (‘Generalbundesanwaltschaft’). 

In a historic ruling on 26 January 2024 in the case filed by South Africa against Israel for the crime of Genocide, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered provisional measures against the “serious risk” of genocide and stated that the latter is “plausibly taking place”. Following that ruling, Germany, like other Third States, has a clear obligation to prevent genocide and German State officials should use their leverage and employ all lawful means at their disposal to influence Israel to refrain from genocidal acts. 

German criminal law requires a ground for initial suspicion to start investigations on a potential crime being committed. The ICJ ruling clearly showed that there is such ground for initial suspicion when it comes to the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

When it comes to “aiding and abetting”, this can be done through logistical, financial or material support, but also by creating favorable conditions for the main crime. In particular, aiding and abetting includes the authorization of arms exports and political support.

The German state is one of the countries that has shown some of the strongest political and material support to Israel in its assault on the Gaza Strip and the Palestinians, with many German officials also inciting to genocide in their statements since October 2023.

The plaintiffs have decided to act, attempting to hold Germany accountable for its complicity in the unspeakable horrors their families are living through. Nora Ragab, an activist and plaintiff in the case, who has relatives in Gaza, declared:

We the living must remember the dead in Gaza, tell their stories and fight for justice. We, Palestinians in the diaspora, will not stand by and watch a genocide being committed against our families and our people. We will use all means at our disposal, from protests on the streets to lawsuits in criminal courts. Today we aim to hold the German government accountable for its complicity in the genocide in Gaza.

The case notably draws on the fact that in 2023, Germany’s arms exports to Israel amounted to EUR 326.5 million, most of which were approved after October 7, 2023, a tenfold increase of arms exports to Israel compared to 2022. Weapons imported from Germany make up 28 percent of Israel’s military imports.

The German government approved more than 300 additional export applications for military equipment worth EUR 306.4 million. It is currently examining Israel’s request for the delivery of tank ammunition, namely 10,000 rounds of 120-millimeter precision ammunition, to which the federal ministries involved have already agreed in principle.

Many countries around the world have taken measures to cut ties with Israel with the genocide unfolding. In Europe, a Dutch Court ordered the government in February 2024 to halt export of F-35 Jets in the light of its international obligations and because there are clear risks that Israel is violating basic principles of international humanitarian law, while the Wallonie region in Belgium has temporarily suspended its exports of gun powder to Israel.

Nadija Samour, the lawyer who filed the case and a legal officer with ELSC said:

Our governments in Europe have a legal obligation not to provide Israel any support in perpetrating the current genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. This has to stop and this is what we hope to achieve by going to court. This lawsuit sends a clear message to German officials: you cannot continue to remain accomplices of such crime without consequences. We want accountability.

While the world continues to witness the total destruction of Gaza, broadcasted live on TV, it is the responsibility of German courts to prevent the German state from being complicit in such horrors and grave breaches of international humanitarian law.

(1) Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock, Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, Minister of Finance Christian Lindner and members of the “Bundessicherheitsrat”, the government body that authorizes arms export licenses.

***

The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative is a Palestinian-led initiative composed of international legal practitioners and lawyers is pursuing legal action against individuals and entities complicit in the crimes in Palestine including genocide in Gaza.

Rechenschaftspflicht Jetzt: Palästinenser*innen erstatten Strafanzeige gegen deutsche Regierungsmitglieder wegen Beihilfe zum Völkermord in Gaza

Berlin 23.02.2024

Heute erstattet eine Gruppe deutscher Anwält*innen im Namen von deutsch-palästinensischen Familienangehörigen aus Gaza Strafanzeige gegen Mitglieder des Bundessicherheitsrats, unter ihnen Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz, Bundesministerin des Auswärtigen Annalena Baerbock, Bundesminister für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz Robert Habeck, und Bundesminister der Finanzen Christian Lindner. 

Der Vorwurf lautet Beihilfe zum Völkermord durch die Genehmigung von Rüstungsexporten, dem unterlassenen Widerruf der bereits erteilten Genehmigungen, sowie die diplomatische Unterstützung Israels – und damit die psychische Beihilfe -, und nicht zuletzt die Einstellung von Hilfszahlungen an die UNRWA.  

Die Gruppe wird unterstützt von den zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen ELSC (European Legal Support Center), PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy), Law for Palestine, und der Initiative Justice and Accountability for Palestine. Die Strafanzeige wird bei dem Generalbundesanwaltschaft in Karlsruhe erstattet.

Der Internationale Gerichtshof (IGH) ist mit einem historischen Beschluss am 26.01.2024 aufgrund der Klage Südafrikas gegen Israel zum Ergebnis gelangt, dass plausible Anhaltspunkte für einen Genozid an Palästinenser:innen vorliegen.

Folglich hat die Bundesrepublik, genauso wie andere Drittstaaten, die völkerrechtlich verankerte Pflicht, diesen Genozid zu verhindern, und ihren Einfluss und alle rechtlichen Mittel, über die sie verfügt, einzusetzen, um Israel dazu aufzufordern, genozidale Handlungen zu unterlassen.

Gemäß der deutschen Strafprozessordnung ist die Voraussetzung für die Einleitung von Ermittlungen der sogenannte Anfangsverdacht. Der IGH-Beschluss hat deutlich gezeigt, dass ein solcher Anfangsverdacht hinsichtlich eines Völkermords gegen die Palästinenser*innen in Gaza besteht.

Beihilfe kann geleistet werden durch logistische, finanzielle oder materielle Unterstützung, aber auch durch das Kreieren von günstigen Umständen für die Straftat. Hier sind insbesondere die Genehmigungen von Rüstungsexporten und die politische und diplomatische Unterstützung zu benennen.

Die Anzeigeerstatter:innen haben sich entschieden zu handeln, um die Verantwortlichen in Deutschland für die Unterstützung unbeschreiblicher Gräuel zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen. Nora Ragab, eine Aktivistin und Anzeigenerstatterin, die auch Familienangehörige in Gaza hat, erklärte:

“Wir, die Lebenden müssen den Toten in Gaza gedenken, ihre Geschichten erzählen, und für Gerechtigkeit kämpfen. Wir Palästinenser*innen in der Diaspora werden nicht tatenlos zusehen, wie ein Genozid an unseren Familien und unserem Volk begangen wird. Wir nutzen alle Mittel, von den Protesten auf der Straße bis zu Anzeigen und Klagen vor den Gerichten. Heute werden wir die deutsche Regierung für ihre Mitschuld am Völkermord in Gaza zur Verantwortung ziehen.”

Die angezeigten Beihilfehandlungen beziehen sich u.a. auf die Rüstungsexporte im Wert von 326,5 Millionen Euro allein im Jahr 2023, von denen die meisten nach dem 7. Oktober 2023 genehmigt wurden und sich somit im Vergleich zu 2022 verzehnfachten. Das für Waffenexporte zuständige Wirtschaftsministerium erklärte im November, dass die “Anträge auf Ausfuhr von Rüstungsgütern nach Israel prioritär bearbeitet und beschieden” würden. Die deutsche Bundesregierung genehmigte seit dem 7. Oktober 2023 mehr als 300 zusätzliche Exportanträge für Militärausrüstung im Wert von 306,4 Millionen EUR. Allein zwischen dem 7. Oktober und dem 7. November 2023 wurden 185 Genehmigungsanträge abschließend bearbeitet. Die Waffen, die aus Deutschland nach Israel importiert werden, machen 28% der israelischen Rüstungsimporte aus.

Gerade prüft die deutsche Regierung die Lieferung von Panzermunition, die von den Ministerien der hier angezeigten Personen bereits genehmigt wurden. 

Viele Länder der Welt haben bereits Maßnahmen ergriffen, um sich von dem von Israel begangenen Völkermord zu distanzieren. In den Niederlanden hat ein Gericht im Februar 2024 die Regierung dazu aufgefordert, den Export von F-35 Strahljägerteile zu unterlassen, da es klare Risiken gibt, dass Israel aktuell gegen grundlegende Prinzipien des Völkerrechts verstößt. Die Region Wallonien in Belgien hat vorübergehend ihren Export von Schießpulver eingestellt.

Rechtsanwältin Nadija Samour, Bevollmächtigte der Strafanzeigenerstatter*innen sagt hierzu:

“Unsere Regierungen in Deutschland und Europa sind völkerrechtlich verpflichtet, Völkermord zu ahnden und zu verhindern, statt ihn zu untestützen. Mit der Strafanzeige fordern wir die Strafjustiz auf, gegen diese Unterstützungshandlungen vorzugehen. Die Strafanzeige setzt ein klares Zeichen gegen die deutschen Regierungsbeamt*innen: die Unterstützung für einen Genozid hat Konsequenzen.”  

Während die Welt die totale Zerstörung Gazas live auf ihre Bildschirme übertragen bekommt, ist es die Verantwortung der deutschen Strafjustiz zu verhindern, dass der deutsche Staat sich an solchen Gräueln und schweren Verbrechen des internationalen Völkerrechts mitschuldig macht.

Categories
Press Release

Press Release: a Palestinian-led initiative warns public officials in Europe of intention to prosecute over complicity in Israel’s crimes in Gaza.

Amsterdam, January 22, 2024

The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative has issued a stark warning to European public officials of the Austrian, French, German and Dutch governments that they could be individually liable for their role in aiding and abetting Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of Genocide through their involvement in providing military, economic, and political support to Israel. 

This comes after 108 days of Israel’s relentless war against Gaza and the Palestinian people, resulting in a devastating toll, as of 19 January: 

24,977 Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

66,082 Palestinians injured in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

1,930,000 Palestinians internally displaced in the Gaza Strip.

10,300 Palestinian children killed in the Gaza Strip.

7,100 Palestinian women killed in the Gaza Strip.

117 Palestinian journalists killed by  Israel.

By ordering 1.2 million people in besieged Gaza to immediately leave their homes in northern Gaza and flee south, Israel has enforced mass displacement which constitutes both a war crime and a crime against humanity. Its ongoing complete siege of the Gaza Strip, restricting electricity, food, water, and other basic necessities, further amounts to collective punishment — a war crime under the Geneva Convention. Already back in November, more than 36 UN experts sounded the alarm about the risk of genocide in Gaza, “disturbed by the failure of governments and international systems to heed [the] call and achieve an immediate ceasefire”… “and profoundly concerned about the support of certain governments for Israel’s strategy of warfare against the besieged population of Gaza, and the failure of the international system to mobilise to prevent genocide”. The Government of South Africa made history, applying to the ICJ under the Genocide Convention accusing Israel of perpetrating genocide against the 2.3 million Palestinians in the occupied and besieged Gaza Strip and requested provisional measures that include a ceasefire and lifting of the blockade. The World Court is expected to decide on the requested measures within days, while deliberations on the merit of the genocide charges against Israel will likely take many months. South Africa’s submission described Israeli actions in Gaza as “genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group”.

The German government, for instance, has increased military aid and  promised unwavering economic and political support to Israel as it continues its relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Even when the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza had exceeded 10,000 five weeks into the start of Israel’s brutal onslaught, Chancellor Scholz continued to oppose a ceasefire: “ I do not think the calls for an immediate ceasefire or long pause – which would amount to the same thing – are right.” Meanwhile, the Dutch government greenlighted export of military equipment to Israel during the genocide, while the Austrian and French public officials, through declarations and visits have shown unconditional support to Israel’s bombing campaign and can be legally liable for “aiding and abetting” war crimes. 

‘Despite horrific crimes committed against our people in Gaza, from indiscriminate bombings, mass killings, destruction of civilian infrastructure, starvation and forced displacement of the vast majority of the Palestinians in Gaza, European public officials have continuously and shamelessly supported such crimes publicly, and therefore must be held accountable …’ said Rula Jamal, Co-Director of the Palestine institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), one of the co-leads of the initiative.

‘At a time of unprecedented atrocities being committed against the Palestinian people in Gaza, it is not only a moral obligation of European states to uphold the international rule of law and prevent the crime of genocide. It is also a legal obligation: failure to do so might result in individual criminal liability for those who continue to recklessly support Israel’s relentless assault on Palestinians in Gaza’, according to Daan de Grefte, Legal Officer at the European Legal Support Center.

“As legal advocates deeply committed to justice, the unprecedented atrocities against the Palestinian people profoundly stir our consciences, compelling us to unite in fulfilling our duty. Those public officials implicated in supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza must face accountability. We urge decision-makers at all levels to reconsider their endorsement of international crimes, put an end to the hypocrisy, bring an immediate halt to the ongoing devastation in Gaza, and champion international law as the universal standard for protecting every individual”, emphasized Ihsan Adel, Chairperson of the Law for Palestine.

‘The continuation of unconditional support and armament of the Dutch state of Israel, even after seemingly genocidal statements by Israeli senior officials, is unacceptable. In combination with the horrific facts on the ground in Gaza, specifically the enormous death toll – including almost half of them children, this means that the Dutch government cannot keep supporting Israel’s actions without consequences. The Dutch state and its officials have the duty to prevent genocide and all other violations of humanitarian law’, states attorney Wout Albers of Global Justice Association.

Sustaining such assistance implicates European public officials in the perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as failure to prevent the crime of genocide. This may render officials criminally liable for violating international law by ‘aiding and abetting’  Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people.

The full letters to the government officials can be found here.

About The Justice and Accountability for Palestine initiative

The Justice and Accountability for Palestine initiative is a decentralized worldwide network of legal organizations, lawyers and human rights defenders; dedicated to investigating and pursuing legal actions against individuals and entities involved in crimes in Palestine. The initiative is coordinated by Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) and Law for Palestine (Law4Palestine).

Contact for media enquiries and interviews: 

  • General inquiries: communication@accountabilitypalestine.org 
  • (Arabic,English) Rula Jamal, communication@accountabilitypalestine.org
  • (Dutch) Daan de Grefte, communication@accountabilitypalestine.org 
  • (French) Inès AbdelRazek, communication@accountabilitypalestine.org
Categories
Press Release

New Report Highlights Major Free Speech Issues in UK Universities

Report published today reveals breaches of fundamental rights in UK Higher Education through the use of the ‘IHRA definition of antisemitism’

London, 13 September 2023

A controversial definition of antisemitism that conflates criticisms of Israel with antisemitism has been used on campuses, leading to restrictions on the freedom of speech of staff and students, the new report reveals. This is the first study to expose the harmful implications of the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism following its adoption in UK universities. It was conducted by the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES), the largest academic association in Europe focused on the study of the Middle East and North Africa, and the European Legal Support Center (ELSC). The report demonstrates that the definition is not fit for purpose and is infringing on academic freedom and freedom of speech, while also harming the mental health, reputation and career prospects of students and staff.

The report is based on an analysis of 40 cases, recorded between 2017 and 2022, in which university staff and students were accused of antisemitism based on the IHRA definition. In all instances, except in two ongoing cases, the accusations of antisemitism have been rejected. The final two have yet to be substantiated. 

The findings demonstrate that the IHRA definition is undermining academic freedom and freedom of expression in relation to discussions of Israel and Palestine and risks being used in a way that discriminates against Palestinians and others on campuses who wish to teach, research, study, discuss, or speak out against the oppression of Palestinians.

The accusations have, in some cases, led to the cancellation of events that discuss the situation in Palestine and/or take a critical stance on Zionism, or the imposition of unreasonable conditions on the format of events. A common feature across several cases is the occurrence of significant and sustained levels of monitoring and surveillance by complainants including recording student speeches and staff lectures; monitoring student or staff social media posts; and reviewing academic publications, course syllabi and reading lists.

Staff and students who were subject to investigations and, in some cases, disciplinary hearings registered varying levels of stress and anxiety caused by these processes, despite being exonerated.

The reflections of one academic who went on leave due to stress are illustrative:

When you are in the process, you don’t understand how stressed you are. My nerves made me hyper vigilant for two years. The impact of the cases, continual media coverage, and constant communication to deal with the case resulted in chronic stress. 

Another targeted academic expressed concerns about their reputation and career:

I feel like I’m on this emotional roller-coaster. I feel like I won’t get a job anywhere else. If I apply for another job, they might not hire me. Not that they would think that I’m antisemitic but because they would want to avoid controversy. That’s the reality for me now. It’s different for the people whose investigations didn’t go public. Reputation is everything for academics.

One student explained how the accusations interfered with their studies and threatened their future education:

It was really difficult to hear that you might be kicked out of university. It was very hard for me to focus on my studies. I had to do re-sits in the summer, so I didn’t graduate until recently. I nearly didn’t get into Oxford. I missed the deadline by two months. If it wasn’t for Oxford being really flexible, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.

These cases are creating a chilling effect among staff and students, deterring individuals from speaking about or organising events that discuss Palestine out of fear that they will be subject to complaints, or else will face considerable bureaucratic hurdles and even costly legal action. Academics employed on temporary contracts and students are particularly susceptible to self-censorship out of fear that any sort of accusations, even if not upheld, could jeopardise their future ability to obtain permanent employment or impact their mental health.

The authors of the report recommend that UK higher education institutions should rescind the adoption of the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism.

Neve Gordon, the Chair of BRISMES’s Committee on Academic Freedom and a professor of human rights law in the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London said: 

What has been framed as a tool to classify and assess a particular form of discriminatory violations of protected characteristics, has instead been used as a tool to undermine and punish protected speech and to punish those in academia who voice criticism of the Israeli state’s policies.

Giovanni Fassina, Director of the ELSC added: 

Not only does the documented pattern call into question the compliance of UK universities with their legal obligation to protect academic freedom and freedom of expression, but it is leading universities away from their core mission of nurturing critical thought, facilitating unhindered research, and encouraging wide-ranging debate.

Background

In 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) adopted a working definition of antisemitism (‘the IHRA definition’), to which was appended a list of examples of antisemitism, several of which mention Israel, thereby conflating criticisms of the State of Israel, its policies, practices and political ideology with antisemitism. In practice, these examples have been used in UK higher education institutions to delegitimise points of view critical of Israel by making false accusations of antisemitism. 

As pointed out by one of the main drafters of the IHRA definition, Kenneth Stern, writing in The Guardian in 2019, “It was never intended to be a campus hate speech code”. 

While antisemitism exists within UK society and incidents of anti-Jewish prejudice occur in higher education institutions, just as in other institutional contexts, the findings of this new report provide concrete evidence that the IHRA definition of antisemitism is not fit for purpose. The history and instrumentalisation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism should be understood in a wider context of attacks on advocates for Palestinian rights, as explained in a previous report published by the ELSC. Additional resources produced in the USA and Canada demonstrate similar harmful consequences for the rights of advocates for Palestine, while several human rights organisations, like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have asked the UN to reject the IHRA definition because its use and implementation “chill and sometimes suppress non-violent protest, activism and speech”. Such misuse has also been criticised by the former UN Special Rapporteur on Racism E. Tendayi Achiume.

In the UK, other efforts are being deployed at the institutional level to try and undermine advocacy for Palestine. In June 2023, the government tabled a bill aimed at preventing public bodies from making investment decisions that align with their human rights responsibilities and obligations. The bill was designed to target, in particular, boycotts, divestment and sanctions of Israel and, therefore, the Palestinian-led BDS movement. In response, a coalition of more than 70 civil society organisations in the UK declared that this bill represents a further attack on freedom of expression. Human Rights Watch called the bill “the latest in a growing list of measures which fundamentally undermine free speech and democratic rights in the country.”

The British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) is the largest academic association in Europe focused on the study of the Middle East and North Africa. Through its Committee on Academic Freedom, it is committed to supporting academic freedom and freedom of expression, both within the region and in connection with the study of the region, both in the UK and globally. https://www.brismes.ac.uk/ 

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is the only organisation providing free legal support to individuals, groups and organisations advocating for Palestinian rights in Europe, including the UK. ELSC also documents incidents of repression and analyses and challenges the restrictive policies that result in shrinking space. https://elsc.support/

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Press Release

BREAKING-New Report Reveals Human Rights Violations Resulting from IHRA Definition of Antisemitism 

Amsterdam, 6 June 2023 

Today, the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) launches its new report “Suppressing Palestinian Rights Advocacy through the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism – Violating the Rights to Freedom of Expression and Assembly in the European Union and the UK”. The report is the first case-based account of human rights violations resulting from the institutionalisation and application of the controversial IHRA definition by the European Union and the UK. The growing concerns about the negative human rights impact of the IHRA definition, have so far been ignored by the EU. 

The ELSC report is based on 53 recorded incidents between 2017 and 2022 in Germany, Austria and the UK, in which individuals, groups and organisations were accused of antisemitism based on the IHRA definition. All of the accused were targeted for advocating for Palestinian rights, denouncing Israel’s practices and policies and/or criticising Zionism as a political ideology. When legally challenged, most of these allegations of antisemitism were dismissed as unsubstantiated. 

Analysis of the cases reveals a highly problematic pattern in which the IHRA definition is being implemented. Although it is advertised and promoted as “non-legally binding”, the definition is increasingly used by public and private bodies as if it was law. As a result, the IHRA definition chills free speech and curtails freedom of assembly, resulting in self-censorship of individuals afraid to face allegations of antisemitism.  

As confirmed by the ELSC report, allegations of antisemitism invoking the IHRA definition are overwhelmingly aimed at Palestinians, Jewish activists and organisations advocating for Palestinian rights. This suggests the definition is being implemented in a discriminatory manner. Individuals who are targeted suffer a range of unjust and harmful consequences, including loss of employment and reputational damage. 

Dr Younes, Independent Researcher and (Policy) Writer in Germany, said: 

With the uncritical adoption at the political and academic level across Europe, it has become impossible to voice any critical opinion about Israeli policies in public or in academia without the risk of losing your job, contract, funding or future employment opportunities.

A student activist in a UK university reflected: 

I found that the IHRA definition was deployed as a distraction tactic, where routinely I felt burnt out defending the right to freedom of expression and solidarity with Palestine […] I had crippling anxiety of who I could even trust, as it felt like the IHRA definition was a mode of surveillance in my day-to-day life.

The ELSC report also criticises the European Commission for consistently ignoring and dismissing the growing human rights concerns about the IHRA definition, and for failing to take measures to prevent any adverse impact of it on fundamental rights. 

Giovanni Fassina, director at the ELSC, commented: 

It is time for the European Commission to acknowledge and address that the policy it has been promoting and implementing on the basis of the IHRA definition, both at EU and member state level, is highly detrimental to fundamental rights and that it is fostering anti Palestinian racism.

The ELSC urges the European Commission, as well as the governments, parliaments and public institutions in the EU Member States and the UK, to cease and revoke the endorsement, adoption, promotion and implementation of the IHRA definition. While addressing and enforcing policies to combat antisemitism, the legal obligation of public actors to respect and protect freedom of expression and freedom of assembly must be upheld. 

Currently, the United Nations is finalising its “Action Plan on monitoring antisemitism and enhancing a system-wide response”. Recently, the ELSC joined a letter of more than a hundred civil society organisations, urging UN Secretary-General Guterres and High Representative Moratinos not to adopt and apply the IHRA definition. In November 2022, 128 leading scholars in antisemitism, Holocaust Studies and related fields, warned the UN in a public statement against adopting the IHRA definition. In October 2022, the UN Special Rapporteur on Racism released a report sharply criticising the IHRA definition. 

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READ THE REPORT

Media coverage

The Intercept

Al Jazeera

Carnegie Middle East Center (DIWAN)

+972 Magazine

Mondoweiss

Middle East Eye

The Left Berlin

ELSC in FMEP’s podcast Occupied Thoughts

Op-ed in Al-Jazeera by Majed Abusalama

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Press Release

Two Muslim Women Take Lloyds Bank to Court for Discrimination

16 March 2023, London and Amsterdam

After being sanctioned for posting messages in support of Palestine on their internal work portal, two Muslim women are suing their employer for discrimination. Lloyds Bank PLC (“LBP” or “Lloyds”) is one of the biggest banks in the UK.

In May 2021, Affy and Aliya posted messages in support of the Palestinian people and criticising illegal Israeli policies on their internal online portal, a platform where social issues are often discussed between employees. At the time, the Israeli army was bombing the occupied Gaza Strip, an attack that resulted in the killing of 236 Palestinian civilians. Affy also expressed her desire for LBP to boycott HP, a company that provided servers to run the ID systems that Israel uses to restrict Palestinian movement, and raised concerns on the impact of this on LBP’s ethical business activity.

Lloyds decided to investigate Affy and Aliya about the posts. Findings of ‘gross misconduct’ were made against both women for breaching the Lloyds’ policies on professional integrity, personal integrity – which include rules about discrimination, harassment and abusive content – and doing business responsibly. They received written warnings which could remain on their records indefinitely and were both reported to the Financial Conduct Authority for failing ‘to act with due skill, care and diligence’.  

This has had serious consequences in Affy and Aliya’s personal and professional lives. Affy, was 21 at the time, lost a prestigious graduate role with a £60,000 starting salary as a result of Lloyds’ sanctions. Affy and Aliya both lost their annual bonuses. Both are anxious about their future careers and now fear reprisal for raising concerns about socially responsible business or speaking about Palestine.

To get these sanctions removed, and to defend the right to speak about Palestine, Affy and Aliya are taking LBP to court for discrimination.

We should all be freed from discrimination based on our beliefs or our opinions about a just cause. We are taking this legal fight to end discrimination in our workplace. said Aliya.

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is supporting Affy and Aliya in their legal fight to get their sanctions revoked and their professional reputations restored. Giovanni Fassina, the Director of the ELSC, comments:

We have taken on this case to defend Affy and Aliya’s rights to advocate for Palestinian rights in their workplace, including through education and actions around corporate complicity in human rights abuse. This case is a clear manifestation of anti-Palestinian racism, a form of discrimination that silences, excludes, and defames Palestinians and their allies with slander such as being inherently antisemitic, and a dangerous restriction of free speech.[1]

The ELSC launched a crowdfunding campaign to help both employees cover the costly legal fees of their lawsuit against Lloyds, one of the biggest banks in the UK. The costs are estimated to be at least £30,000.

Affy’s hearing is set to take place in June 2023 at the London Central Employment Tribunal. Aliya is in the process of applying to have her case adjoined to Affy’s.

[1] To read more about anti-Palestinian racism, see ACLA, Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations, April 2022, available at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61db30d12e169a5c45950345/t/627dcf83fa17ad41ff217964/1652412292220/Anti-Palestinian+Racism-+Naming%2C+Framing+and+Manifestations.pdf

Visual: CC Commons

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Press Release

First step towards justice for Palestinian rights activist in Vienna sued over social media post

European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Amsterdam and Vienna, November 9, 2022

The Viennese administrative authority has discontinued proceedings brought against the BDS Austria activist, including a fine of up to 3.500€, which accused the activist of committing an administrative offence. The activist and their lawyer are hopeful that this verdict will compel the civil court to dismiss the pending SLAPP and lead to a full vindication of the activist’s rights.  

On 20 October 2022, in a positive turn of events, the administrative authority dismissed the proceedings brought against a BDS activist for posting a third-party photo of the famous “Visit apartheid” poster parodically emblazoned with the City of Vienna logo. The charges were initially brought on the grounds of the improper use of the City’s logo, a violation of the Administrative Offences Act which warranted a fine of up to €3.500.

The administrative authority based its sudden halt of the proceedings on section 45(1) of the Administrative Offences Act 1991 (VStG), which allows for a dismissal of proceedings where, among other things: the defendant is innocent, the offence is not reprehensible or the harm raised by the claim is not severe enough to justify the proceedings. Although the administrative authority was unable to specify any one of the reasons listed in section 45(1), the fact that it relied on this provision in the first place clearly shows that it understood the claim to be baseless.

In the meantime, the City of Vienna’s SLAPP against the activist for defamation is still ongoing.

Back in April 2022, a judge contestably upheld the SLAPP lodged by the City against the activist over the same post. In the submission, the City of Vienna complained that the sarcastic “Visit apartheid” statement associated with the City’s logo would amount to defamation and that the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement “incites to hatred against Israeli people”. The activist has appealed this decision.

In a letter sent in May 2022 to the Austrian authorities, four UN Special Rapporteurs had also expressed concerns about the City of Vienna’s anti-BDS resolution and the lawsuit that “may hinder the peaceful activities of human rights defenders committed to monitor and denounce human rights violations in occupied Palestine, shrinking the civic space available to them to express legitimate grievances”.

The latest victory may mark a turning point in this judicial saga. 

The activist’s lawyer, Elisabetta Folliero, welcomes the decision dated 20 October 2022:

It is very positive that the administration of the City of Vienna has reaffirmed the importance of the exercise of freedom of opinion, thus demonstrating that Viennese institutions still have willpower to tackle violations of fundamental human rights. We hope that the civil proceedings still pending will also have the same outcome. It is vital to reiterate that freedom of opinion, and freedom of boycott as its component, are essential in order to safeguard democracy.

The judgment on the appeal against the interim decision has not yet been issued, and a hearing for the civil lawsuit is yet to be set.

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Case Update Press Release

Four UN Special Rapporteurs Address Their Concerns to Austrian Authorities About Anti-BDS Resolution and Lawsuit Against Activist 

UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, SR on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, SR on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and SR on the situation of human rights defenders sent a communication to Austrian authorities, asking clarification on the City of Vienna’s anti-BDS resolution and the lawsuit the City filed against a BDS activist.  

In the communication sent on 20 May 2022, the SR raised their concerns about the resolution adopted in 2018, “which includes undue restrictions to the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and of association”. They further expressed “concern that the City of Vienna’s filing of a lawsuit against a member of BDS Austria may hinder the peaceful activities of human rights defenders committed to monitor and denounce human rights violations in occupied Palestine, shrinking the civic space available to them to express legitimate grievances”.  

The BDS Austria activist published a social media post showing a picture of the famous poster stating “Visit Apartheid” that was stuck on a billboard along with the official logo of the Municipality of Vienna. The post had the sarcastic caption “We are pleased that the City of Vienna also takes note of apartheid and publicly states it”.  In November 2021, the City of Vienna filed a SLAPP (Strategic lawsuit against public participation) against the activist on the grounds of defamation and unlawful use of the City’s logo. It claimed that the BDS movement “incites to hatred against Israeli people” and therefore being publicly associated with BDS would amount to defamation since “the designation of the situation in Israel/Palestine as an “Apartheid” constitutes damage to our reputation”. In a highly contestable decision delivered on 6 April 2022, the Commercial Court of Vienna endorsed the City’s lawsuit and ruled against the BDS activist. 

The SR are worried that “this judgement in the first instance consolidates the City of Vienna’s motion against the BDS movement”. The resolution, which falsely labels the BDS movement as “antisemitic”, was indeed invoked by the City in the lawsuit. As stated in a legal opinion commissioned by the ELSC and authored by Professors Xavier Dupré De Boulois, Eric David, Richard Falk and John Reynolds, the resolution infringes on the fundamental rights of freedoms of expression, association and assembly of Palestinian rights advocates. 

Moreover, the SR recalled the legality and legitimacy of the BDS movement: “we point out that expressing support for, or opposition to, BDS, is fully guaranteed by the rights to freedom of opinion, expression and association” enshrined in articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and political Rights. They also cited the European Court of Human Rights milestone judgement Baldassi and Others v. France and positive case law confirming the right to BDS in France and Germany. The SR further added that “this is in line with the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA)” which “stipulates that ‘boycott, divestment and sanctions are commonplace, non-violent forms of political protest against states’.” 

On 8 July 2022, the Austrian authorities replied to the communication, failing to respond to most of the requests sent by the Special Rapporteurs. Instead, they reiterated their baseless and unfounded claims targeting BDS Austria: “Their movement’s campaigns are often referred to as antisemitic”. They stood firm in a problematic position that was observed in the context of the lawsuit against BDS Austria and that contradicts the freedom of expression and protection of human rights defenders. 

The reply of the Austrian authorities makes the legal battle of the activist even more necessary in order to challenge the suppression of Palestinian rights advocacy in Austria. The BDS activist appealed the Court decision and is ready, if necessary, to stand before the European Court of Human Rights to assert his fundamental right to freedom of expression, a right enshrined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 

SUPPORT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS – TAKE ACTION 

  • Donate to help the activist covering the legal fees 
  • Sign the petition co-sponsored by the ECCP to ask the Municipality of Vienna to stop its lawfare against BDS activists 

Read more about the case.

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Case Update Press Release

New Course at Vienna Fine Arts Academy Signals Further Erasure of Palestinian Narrative

The ELSC expressly condemns the holding of a course that is likely to fuel insidious censorship of genuine anti-racist discourse.

In May 2022, Palestinian scholar Dr. Walaa Alqaisiya was hastily disinvited from the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts’ Spring Curatorial Programme: Art Geographies. While the Academy refused to apologise and to clarify the internal process that led to her censorship, Walaa and her supporters pushed back and obtained the withdrawal of the remainder of the event from the Academy’s premises.

Adding insult to injury, the Academy is now hosting a year-long course entitled “Antiantianti: Conflicts about Antiantisemitism and Antiracism in the Politicized Art World”. While Eduard Freudmann and Petja Dimitrova, the course organisers, purportedly intend to reflect on “develop[ing] practices of solidarity that are simultaneously anti-racist and anti-anti-Semitic”, the abstract manifestly misrepresents the Palestine solidarity movement. It states that, “for decades, the conflict served as a projection screen for a political left” and that “supporting the Palestinian cause was taken for granted”.

Moreover, the course organisers chose two subjects of study: Dr. Alqaisiya’s disinvitation and the dismantling of an artwork in this year’s documenta edition. Neither Dr. Alqaisiya nor any contributor to the documenta fifteen exhibition were contacted prior to the preparation of this course. By cherry-picking two isolated incidents, Freudmann and Dimitrova deliberately extricate them from their broader context and thereby exclude entire fragments of the events.

In particular, the full picture of racism, and specifically anti-Palestinian racism, which took place in both instances, is absent from the course description, and its importance is explicitly downplayed. Had the course organisers intended to engage in a fully informed discussion on anti-racism, the abstract should have referred to a comprehensive factual overview, including the accounts relating to Dr. Alqaisiya’s differential treatment and to the unabashed, systematic racism that occurred at documenta fifteen.

The course further intends to study “different definitions of racism and antisemitism”, which begs the question – will the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and its examples be used as a parameter for discussion? If so, the course would likely steer the conversation away from anti-racism by eliminating the Palestinian narrative in favour of a widely criticised definition of antisemitism that conflates legitimate criticism of the Israeli state with antisemitism. This equation is extremely harmful to the global struggle against racism and the just pleas of the oppressed Palestinian people.

A space must be provided in academia for the free expression of sentiments of Palestinian solidarity, without repression. The ELSC therefore strongly condemns the maintenance of this course under the preconceptions expressed in its abstract, which is likely to harm individuals who are already facing outrageous smears and attacks.

Photo: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Schillerplatz 3, 1st district of Vienna, Peter Haas / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Press Release

Berlin Data Protection Authority Holds RIAS/MBR Accountable for Violating Dr. Younes’ Data Rights

On 16 May 2022, the Berlin Data Protection Authority (DPA) decided in favour of Dr. Anna Younes and issued a warning against VDK, representing RIAS Berlin and MBR. The two organisations had prepared a secret dossier on Dr. Younes, which aimed at identifying “her positions on Israel and BDS”. The dossier also framed her as supporter of terrorism, sexism and anti-Jewish racism and resulted in her disinvitation from a public event on anti-racism organised by Die Linke in November 2019. Furthermore, the DPA rejected RIAS/MBR’s claim and stated that they “did not have a serious scientific purpose” nor a journalistic one when preparing this dossier. After almost two years, the DPA finally found RIAS/MBR violated European data protection law (GDPR) and recognised Dr. Younes’ basic data rights as a German citizen. Further legal action will be taken.

Nearly two years after Dr. Younes filed a complaint to the Berlin Data Protection Authority (DPA), the DPA issued a final decision on RIAS/MBR’s duty to provide access to her data. This decision follows a months-long public media campaign as well as a lawsuit brought against the DPA for its inactivity, both designed to expedite the legal process and obtain reparation for the damage inflicted on Dr. Younes. This decision also comes after a first victory for Dr. Younes in the beginning of May 2022, as a district court ruled in her favour and RIAS/MBR disclosed a part of the information they collected on her – namely, the dossier, which had been leaked to Dr. Younes. RIAS/MBR state in their answer to the DPA that they collected information on Dr. Younes in order to “identify her positions on Israel and BDS”.

The DPA’s decision finally upheld Dr. Younes’ right to obtain access to the personal data collected by RIAS/MBR as ensured by European and German data protection law. In so doing, it rejected RIAS/MBR’s claims that the covert data gathering and sharing pursued journalistic and research purposes, which would have entitled the organisations to an exemption from providing this information.

Indeed, the DPA found that RIAS/MBR failed to follow a scientific methodology and limited itself to creating a “compilation of publicly accessible facts without deriving any new findings on them”. The DPA further rejected the invocation of a journalistic privilege, considering that the dossier was “explicitly not intended for publication and thus cannot represent an indirect contribution to the formation of public opinion”.

For these reasons, the DPA held that RIAS/MBR had violated article 15(1) of the GDPR on the right of access by the data subject. In this regard, Dr. Younes and the ELSC welcome the DPA’s decision.

Nonetheless, the DPA deemed that the framing of the data and its private transmission of the dossier to Die Linke was lawful, without explaining the grounds for said surveillance in the first place. Nor did this decision take into consideration Dr. Younes’ right to reputation, to not be misrepresented as having an “Antisemitic attitude”. 

After more than two years, it is a relief that the DPA held RIAS/MBR MBR accountable, whose conduct amounts to surveillance. We welcome the DPA’s decision that RIAS/MBR cannot legitimate their conduct on pretences of journalism or an ostensible scientific activity. Nevertheless, we deeply disagree with the DPA that RIAS/MBR’s preparation and transmission of the dossier was legitimate, as this resulted in significant damage to Dr. Younes’ professional and personal reputation and sends a clear message to all Palestinians in Germany. We will appeal the decision.

Giovanni Fassina, Director of the ELSC.

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Visual: © ELSC. CC Watermelon Emoji Icon on IconScout

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Case Update Press Release

German Court Rules in Favour of Scholar Dr. Anna Younes in Digital Surveillance Case

European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Amsterdam and Berlin, May 17, 2022

On 6 May 2022, the Berlin District Court upheld Dr. Younes’ claims and ordered VDK – the German state-funded organisation that legally represents RIAS Berlin and MBR – to give Anna Younes access to data that the two civil society organisations had gathered on her and passed on to others. The information released so far reveals that RIAS and MBR have been collecting people’s personal data based on their “positions on Israel and BDS.”

In November 2019, RIAS and MBR created a secret dossier which depicted Dr. Younes as an anti-Jewish racist, terrorist sympathiser and sexist. The dossier was then sent to Katina Schubert, the head of the political party Die Linke/The Left in Berlin. This resulted in Dr. Younes’ exclusion from a public event organised by the party. This conduct infringed upon Dr. Younes’ right to privacy, freedom of expression, and academic freedom. RIAS/MBR’s actions amount to digital surveillance.

In March 2020, Dr. Younes, with the support of her lawyer and the ELSC, requested RIAS provide access to her personal data, based on data rights under EU Data Protection Law. RIAS/MBR refused. Therefore, she brought her case to the Berlin Data Protection Authority (DPA), and then to court. Additionally, she had to file two lawsuits at the beginning of April 2022, due to the non-processing of her case by the DPA.  

However, it was only after a public media campaign was launched and more than 1,000 scholars, organisations, artists, journalists and activists supported her, that the DPA finally acknowledged Dr. Younes’ right to access her data. On 2 May 2022, RIAS/MBR withdrew their original position that Dr. Younes had no right to access her data, released the secret dossier previously disseminated and finally acknowledged the merits of her claim. A few days later, the court also handed down its decision in favour of Dr. Younes.

Most importantly, RIAS/MBR admitted to collecting data on, “Dr. Younes’ positions on Israel and the BDS movement.” The latter is a classification that most likely derives from MBR/RIAS’ use of the contested “IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism”.

Dr. Anna Younes and the ELSC welcome the decision of the District Court and the reconciliatory reaction of the DPA. The ELSC expects the DPA to acknowledge that RIAS and MBR illegally passed the secret dossier on to Katina Schubert, which led to a violation of Dr. Younes’ privacy rights – amongst other things.

Following this victory, Dr. Younes and her lawyer will request damages in court as RIAS/MBR prevented her from accessing her information for approximately two years. It also remains to be clarified whether RIAS and MBR have been storing further data other than those revealed in the disseminated dossier. 

“This is an important victory because organisations using the IHRA definition for the surveillance of Palestinian rights advocates will be required to provide access to the information they collect on individuals. We believe that this is not an isolated case and that there is a structural issue of profiling Palestinians and Palestinian rights advocates in Germany. This is what we intend to challenge further in court. This demeanour creates a chilling effect and limits democratic participation in public debate.” – Giovanni Fassina, Director of the ELSC.

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Case Update Press Release

Viennese Court Endorses the City of Vienna’s SLAPP Against Palestinian Rights Advocate

European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Amsterdam and Vienna, April 13, 2022

In a highly contestable decision delivered on 6 April 2022 in the case between the City of Vienna and a member of BDS Austria, the Commercial Court of Vienna endorsed the City’s Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), ruling against the BDS activists. The Austrian activists will appeal this decision.

The judge ordered that the BDS activist must no longer use the logo of the City of Vienna in connection with any publication or public statement in order to avoid that the latter may be interpreted as issued by the City. The Court forbade the use of the City’s logo, although it was not proven in any way that the activist had ever done so.

The City sued the activist for publishing a sarcastic social media post that contained a picture of the famous “Visit Apartheid” poster attached to a billboard carrying the official logo of the City of Vienna. The City alleges that the BDS movement holds “antisemitic views” and “incites hatred against Israeli people”. Accordingly, it claimed that being publicly associated with BDS and with “the designation of the situation in Israel/Palestine as ‘Apartheid’ causes damage to [its] reputation”, and that this would therefore amount to defamation.

The judgement of the Vienna Court significantly deviates from prior judgments issued by the European Court of Human Rights, notably its judgment in Baldassi and Others v. France, as well as from emerging case law in Germany, all of which confirm the legitimacy of the Palestinian civil society-led BDS movement.

The Court’s decision is deeply problematic for the following reasons:

  1. The Court exclusively based its reasoning on the City’s documents, while disregarding the 22 pieces of evidence submitted on behalf of the BDS activist, including legal opinions of renowned international and Israeli scholars.
  2. The Court also ignored that the existence of an Israeli system of apartheid that oppresses the Palestinian people is a fact that has been meticulously documented by leading human rights organizations and UN experts, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’tselem and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
  3. It was clear from the BDS activist’s social media post that the apartheid poster did neither originate from the City nor express the views of the City. The activist’s post was not a factual assertion but rather satirical humour, which was taken out of context and used to silence advocacy for Palestinian rights.

The BDS activist intends to appeal the decision and is ready, if necessary, to stand before the European Court of Human Rights to assert his fundamental right to freedom of expression, a right enshrined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Regarding next steps, the activist’s lawyer, Elisabetta Folliero, said:

“My client wants to proceed with the appeal, which is crucial for the defence of the fundamental right to freedom of expression. The City’s claim of financial compensation for damages and the cost of the legal proceedings, which my client will be required to pay if the appeals court upholds this controversial judgement, has already a chilling effect on support for Palestinian rights in Austria. For this reason, we ask for solidarity, including donations, which will support our appeal.”

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Press Release

European States should adopt a Consistent Approach toward Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Palestine during Human Rights Council Session 49

The ELSC took part in a initiative led by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) to ask key EU institutions and Member States to uphold the rule of international law and human rights for Palestinians at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Read the press release of the CIHRS below.

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and partners in Europe and Palestine wrote to key European Union (EU) institutions and Member States[1] and the United Kingdom (UK), urging them to uphold the rule of international law and human rights for the Palestinian people at the current 49th regular session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. The letters noted the EU’s priorities in the UN Human Rights Fora in 2022, namely its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and the rule of law “consistently and coherently in all areas of its external actions” as well as the UK’s commitment to defend the rights and freedoms of the most oppressed and vulnerable around the world. The letters called on the states to reaffirm their longstanding commitment to international law and human rights standards by voting in favour of the three resolutions under agenda items 2 and 7 pertaining to accountability, human rights, illegal Israeli settlements, and the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.

CIHRS and partners urged the states to recognise and condemn the reality of Israel’s apartheid against the Palestinian people and all associated violations. The organisations also called on states to acknowledge, welcome and engage with the content of the final upcoming report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the oPt during the session, which will examine the crime of apartheid. In addition, CIHRS and partners called on states to support all existing relevant international accountability mechanisms, namely the UN Commission of Inquiry established in April 2021 and the UN database of businesses involved in Israel’s settlement enterprise – as a means to end the ongoing cycle of impunity granted to Israel.

Given Israel’s unsubstantiated designation of six prominent Palestinian human rights and humanitarian organisations as “terrorist” and “unlawful”, CIHRS and partners urged states to call on Israel to immediately revoke these designations and to ensure the continuity and protection of Palestinian civil society and human rights defenders. Furthermore, the communications urged states to call on Israel to immediately stop its annexation of Palestinian land and the expansion of its illegal settlement enterprise in occupied territory, cease the forcible transfer and displacement of protected persons, and end its policy of administrative detention and release all Palestinian political prisoners. During this Council session, the international community must urge Israel to immediately, fully and unconditionally lift its prolonged illegal closure and blockade of the Gaza Strip.

[1] The countries are: Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. In addition, a separate letter was sent to the EU delegations in Geneva, Brussels and Jerusalem.

See more on the CIHRS’s website.

Picture: Human Rights Council – 34th Session. UN Photo / Elma Okic

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Press Release

A New European Citizens Initiative Aims to Push the EU to Ban Trade with Illegal Settlements

The ELSC joined a coalition of more than 100 organisations asking European citizens to sign the European Citizens Initiative that will push the EU to ban trade with illegal settlements and therefore align its policy with international law. See our press release below.

Brussels, 21 February 2022 – Marking the World Day of Social Justice on February 20 a coalition of more than 100 civil society organizations, has launched a European Citizens Initiative (ECI) to stop trade with illegal settlements in occupied territories. 

An ECI is an official instrument for democratic participation of citizens in EU policy making. If an ECI garners one million signatures from EU citizens over 12 months the European Commission must consider and debate the petition’s demands.  This ECI demands EU legislation that will outlaw trade with illegal settlements, anywhere and at all times, including trade with Israel’s illegal settlements in occupied Palestine. The coalition calls on every EU citizen concerned about human rights, social justice and fair trade to sign the petition.

Even though illegal settlements constitute a war crime under international law, the EU allows trade with them. In the case of Israel’s settlements, the UN Security Council has called on states to render them no assistance, and the European Union has repeatedly declared that they constitute a flagrant violation of international law. Nevertheless, the EU continues to trade with them, which has emboldened their ongoing expansion. 

Tom Moerenhout, a legal scholar and one of the initiators of the ECI: 

The EU has been shamefully inconsistent in its respect of the rule of law.  Indeed, the European Commission first rejected registration of our Citizens Initiative but had to change its position after we successfully sued the Commission before the European Court of Justice. The Commission has since acknowledged it can implement a general rule to stop illegal settlement trade that is considered a general measure in respect of international and EU law rather than a sanction.

This European Citizens Initiative is carried out by the #StopSettlements coalition, which includes prominent civil society organizations in the field of human rights, environmental and social justice, trade unions and politicians who unite against profits from annexation and occupation to protect human rights, fair trade, and international peace. 

SIGN and read the text of the petition

#StopSettlements contacts for media and groups & organizations wishing to join the Initiative:
Tom Moerenhout tom@stopsettlements.org
Aneta Jerska aneta@stopsettlements.org

Any question about the ECI or the #StopSettlements campaign? See our Q&A.

About the #StopSettlements Coalition : All information in the About Us section of the website. Also see the members here:

European/ International: 

Avaaz, European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine, European Legal Support Center, European Trade Union Network for Justice In Palestine, Human Rights Watch, Rābet

SumOfUs, Addameer, Al-Haq

Belgium :

Broederlijk Delen, 11.11.11 vecht mee tegen onrecht, Association Belgo-Palestinienne (ABP), CNCD 11.11.11, Coordination Nationale d’Action pour la Paix et la Démocratie (CNAPD), Le Monde Selon les Femmes, Ligue des Droits Humains, Solidagro, Vredesactie

France: 

Association France Palestine Solidarité , ATMF, CEDETIM, Chrétiens de la Méditerranée, Confédération paysanne, Ensemble!, Groupe d’amitié islamo-chrétienne, La CGT, La Cimade, Les Jeunes écologistes , Ligue des droits de l’Homme, Mouvement international de la Réconciliation – Branche française (M.R.), Mouvement pour une Alternative Non-violente (Mrap), Plateforme des ONG Françaises pour la Palestine , Une Autre Voix Juive, Union Juive Française pour la Paix, Union syndicale Solidaires 

Finland: 

Arabikansojen ystävyysseura (AKYS), ICAHD Finland, Psykologien Sosiaalinen Vastuu Ry, Rauhanliitto, Sadankomitea – Committee of 100 in Finland, Suomen Rauhanpuolustajat, Svensk Ungdom / RKP -nuoret, Vihreät nuoret

Germany: 

AK Nahost Berlin, Deutsch-Palästinensische Gesellschaft, Freunde von Sabeel Deutschland, Internationale Liga für Menschenrechte, Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost, Kairos Palestine Solidaritätsnetz Deutschland, Palästinakomitee Stuttgart, Palästina Spricht, pax christi Diözesanverband Rottenburg-Stuttgart, The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) Deutschland 

Luxembourg: 

Comité pour une Paix Juste au Proche-Orient (CPJPO)

Ireland: 

Academics For Palestine (AFP), ActionAid Ireland, Centre for Global Education, Christian Aid Ireland, Comhlámh, Financial Justice – Ireland, Gaza Action Ireland (GAI), Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign-IPSC, Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council (IMPIC), Justice For Palestine, Kaíros Íreland, National Union of Students – Union of Students in Ireland (NUS-USI), PalFest Ireland – Art/ festival Supporting Palestine, SADAKA (The Ireland Palestine Alliance), TCD Apartheid Free, Trade Union Friends of Palestine, Trócaire, Unite, Uplift – People Powered Change

Italy: 

Amici della Mezza Luna Rossa Palestinese (AMLRP), Arci, Artisti Resistenti, Associazione Amicizia Sardegna Palestina, Associazione di solidarietà internazionale, Assopace Palestina, Casa dei Diritti dei Popoli, Centre Nuovo Modello diSviluppo, Centre Studi Sereno Regis, Comitato Fiorentino “fermiamo la Guerra”, Confederazione dei Comitati di Base – COBAS, COSPE – Together For Change, Costituzione Beni Comuni, Cultura e Libertà, Donne en Nero, Fair watch, FIOM-CGIL, Fondazione Lelio e Lisli Basso – Onlus, Gazzella, Gruppo Empolese Emisfero Sud (G.E.E.S.), Il Chicco di Senape, Libera, Libere Tutte, Link – Coordinamento Universitario (LINK), Medicina Democratica, Memoria in Movimento, New weapons research group, Parallelo Palestina, Resistenza , Rete Ebrei Contro L’Occupazione, Salaam Ragazzi dell’Olivo, Salaam Ragazzi dell’Olivo – Comitato Di Trieste, Un ponte per, Una Città In Comune, WILPF

Slovenia:

Center za družbeno raziskovanje (Cedra), Danes je nov dan, Gibanje za pravice Palestincev, Humanitas, Mirovni inštitut, Proja, Sindikat žerjavistov pomorskih dejavnosti (SŽPD), Slovenska filantropija, 3MUHE Pravična trgovina Fair Trade

Spain:

Confederación Intersindical Galega, ELA Sindikatua, LAB

Other European:

Betlehems Venner (Denmark), Palestinagrupperna i Sverige (PGS) (Sweden) 

The ELSC has been involved in the ECI since its very initial stage, assisting the seven EU citizens in the preparation of the Initiative and with legal research and analysis throughout the proceedings before the European Court of Justice, when the European Commission refused first to register the ECI. Read more here.

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Press Release

More and more German courts confirm the right to BDS

Time for German cities and the Bundestag to scrap their shameful anti-Palestinian resolutions

European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Amsterdam and Berlin, February 9, 2022

On January 20, Germany’s Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig confirmed that the City of Munich had violated the right to freedom of expression by denying the use of its conference hall solely because it did not like the particular theme of the planned event. The Court instructed the City to provide its hall for a public debate of Munich’s anti-BDS resolution. The ELSC commends the judges of Germany’s highest administrative court for this principled decision, which represents yet another milestone in efforts to put an end to Germany’s unethical and unlawful anti-BDS resolutions.

The decision of Germany’s highest administrative court in Leipzig comes in a context in which activists for Palestinian human rights have to turn to the courts to defend their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly against their cities, which seek to impose the anti-BDS resolutions adopted by local and regional parliaments, as well as the German Bundestag.

Since 2019, at least seven German courts have consistently upheld the right of activists to use public facilities for BDS-related events. In eight decisions, the Munich Regional Court, the administrative courts of Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Cologne, Hesse, Bavaria and, most recently, Leipzig have convicted the cities of Oldenburg, Bonn, Frankfurt and Munich for violating the constitutional rights to equality, freedom of expression and assembly, instructing the cities to provide the requested public facilities.

In light of these court decisions, German municipal bodies should respect these constitutional rights and ensure equal access to public venues for activists for Palestinian rights. Nevertheless, promoters of Germany’s anti-Palestinian policies, including the federal antisemitism commissioner Felix Klein, continue to push for more of the same restrictive measures, claiming that German cities may lawfully deny public spaces for BDS-related activities, because decisions of administrative courts, including the recent decision of the federal court in Leipzig, apply to the respective specific cases and circumstances only.

In terms of legal efforts, the step ahead is, therefore, a principled challenge of the constitutionality of the anti-BDS resolutions that underpin the restrictive measures of German cities. At least 13 such anti-BDS resolutions – which, based on the false accusation of antisemitism, call for withholding public spaces and subsidies from groups and activities related to the Palestinian civil society-led BDS movement –  have been adopted since 2017 by the parliaments of Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Bochum, Bonn, Leipzig and Bielefeld, the countries of Baden-Württemberg, Thuringia and North Rhine-Westphalia, and the federal Bundestag.

German administrative courts have already ruled that these anti-BDS resolutions are no more than an expression of will, do not have legal standing and can, thus, not justify the restriction of an existing legal right. The Constitutional Court of North-Rhine Westphalia, moreover, has confirmed that the legality of these resolutions may by challenged in constitutional courts, when procedures are exhausted in administrative courts.

Since the Bundestag’s anti-BDS resolution of 2019, activists of the initiative ‘Bundestag 3 for Palestine’ have been insulted as antisemitic and unlawfully excluded from many public spaces in German cities. A Jewish member of the initiative was even compared to the antisemitic murderer of Halle by the antisemitism commissioner and Uwe Becker, board member of the German-Israeli Society DIG. With its recent decision, the Federal Administrative Court now supports BT3P’s lawsuit against the Bundestag, because it ruled conclusively that public space bans because of support for BDS are illegal.

Ahmed Abed, Lawyer of the Bundestag 3 for Palestine (BT3P)

***

For more on these German court decisions, read: German Case Law: A coherent Set of Principles for Challenging anti-BDS resolutions.

Support our legal work against German anti-BDS resolutions and support the Bundestag 3 for Palestine in their legal battle against the Bundestag’s anti-BDS resolution.

For more information, contact us: info@elsc.support

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Press Release

Report reveals a pattern of attempts at silencing Palestinian rights advocates in the Netherlands

Nederlandse versie

Today, the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), an organisation that monitors incidents of repression against Palestinian rights advocates in Europe and provides them with legal support, published a report on chilling Palestinian rights advocacy in the Netherlands. The report, which is the first of its kind ever published, highlights the many attempts to stifle activism, human rights work, artistic activities or simple political expression on Israel and the Palestinian people.

The report highlights how, as the public awareness and criticism of illegal Israeli policies directed against the Palestinian people grew in the 21st century, the Israeli government launched a global campaign to silence voices critical of its policy. With the help of supporters in think tanks, advocacy groups, political allies and some media, the efforts to stifle domestic critique of Israeli policies and advocacy for Palestinian rights intensified and took the form of tactics that follow similar patterns, as shown in the report.

Research in the report is based on 76 incidents of attacks on Palestinian rights advocacy that happened between 2015 and 2020 in the Netherlands, primarily targeting individuals – including activists, NGO staff, journalists, professors, politicians – and civil society organisations. Examples of cases in the report show (attempted) defunding, denial of space, restriction of academic freedom, threats with violence or cyberattacks, threats with lawsuits, and smear campaigns that baselessly conflate legitimate criticism of policies and solidarity initiatives with antisemitism or support to terrorism. These attacks have had immediate impacts on the targeted people’s reputation, mental health and resources, but also longer term effects such as intimidation and self-censorship.

Despite the broad civic space provided by the institutions in the Netherlands, and even though the attacks often don’t succeed, the report exposes a genuine chilling effect and an environment in which Palestinian rights advocates can be attacked for exercising their fundamental rights. Among the perpetrators are well identified actors such as Israel-advocacy groups, specific media outlets and right-wing and Christian political parties, but also centrist parties or mainstream media that plays an important role in enabling and amplifying the disinformation and/or attacks of the primary actors, as stated in the report.

“Compared to other countries in Europe such as Germany or the UK, the Netherlands has a relatively favourable environment for advocating for Palestinian rights and upholding freedom of expression. But many of the attacks and incidents against human rights defenders that we have been monitoring could be avoided if the government was opposing harder the smear campaigns and pressure from Israel-advocacy groups.” said Giovanni Fassina, the Programme Director of the ELSC.

The report calls on the Dutch government and other public institutions such as universities or city councils to comply more proactively with their positive obligation to protect civic space. Members of Parliament and civil society have a particular duty and leverage towards the government in that regard, and media, donors and financial services providers also bear their own responsibilities in the observed shrinking space for open and democratic debate.

Read the report – Dutch version / See an infographic of the main findings – Dutch version

The European Legal Support Center was established in 2019 in Amsterdam as the first organisation to defend and empower the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe, including the UK, through legal means. The ELSC provides free legal advice and assistance to associations, NGOs, groups and individuals advocating for Palestinian rights in Europe. Press contact: Alice Garcia, alice@elsc.support.

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Press Release

Israeli Product Centre Fined for the Mislabelling of Products from the Occupied Palestinian Territory

On Friday 9 April, the Israeli Products Centre (IPC) based in Nijkerk, The Netherlands, received a fine of €2100 from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) for mislabeling products originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The ELSC previously assisted the Dutch group docP who led a campaign for the IPC to correctly label products from the oPt but also to stop the trade in settlement products altogether, when they received a letter threatening legal action for their advocacy efforts. We welcome the decision of the NVWA as an important signal showing that activists who work for the respect of international law cannot be restricted by threats of legal action aimed at silencing Palestinian advocacy.

The present fine was issued following a campaign by docP in February 2020 calling on individuals to submit a complaint to the NVWA to investigate the IPC for the possible mislabeling of products, particularly wine and cosmetics containing Dead Sea salt. The IPC, an initiative of the Dutch Christians for Israeli foundation, which aims to encourage trade with Israel, has previously promoted the sale of mislabeled settlement products. The docP campaign highlighted that, following the 2019 Psagot judgement of the Court of Justice of the EU, products within the EU common market originating from the oPt are required to be labelled as being made in an “occupied territory” and an “Israeli settlement”. Without such labelling, products may evade import taxes as products made in the illegal Israeli settlements fall outside of preferential trade agreements concluded by the EU and Israel.

Following the campaign led by docP, the IPC was investigated by Dutch authorities who acknowledged that their labelling did not meet the legal requirements. The IPC revised labels on the products from Israeli settlements in the oPt to state that the products were “coming from an Israeli village in Judea and Samaria”. DocP continued their campaign to ensure the products were correctly labelled as originating from an Israeli settlement in occupied territory in accordance with Dutch and EU law. The recent fine reflects the success of this campaign and is an important step in ensuring consumers and tax authorities can clearly identify products originating from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. 

The ELSC assisted in the present case after the IPC threatened to sue docP for defamation due to their advocacy work. With the assistance of the ELSC, docP sent a letter to the NVWA and Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD) to clarify the legal basis for the accusation of mislabelling and that the evasion of import duties was a suspicion, not a proven fact. In response, lawyers for the IPC stated that they were considering legal action, however, no further action was taken.

We welcome the decision of the NVWA as it not only ensures respect for Dutch and international law but also shows that advocates for Palestinian rights will not stand down when threatened due to their human rights work.

To read docP’s Press Release, click here

For further information on this case, click here

For further information on EU labelling requirements from products from Israeli settlements, click here