Since 2023, policies implemented in Germany under the pretext of combating antisemitism have evolved into a significant mechanism of pressure on the freedoms of expression, assembly, and protest. The instrumentalization of historical traumas to silence peaceful voices raised in response to grave human rights violations in Gaza stands in contradiction with the principle of the rule of law. The repressive climate in Germany has fostered discriminatory practices, particularly against Muslim communities and pro-Palestinian activists, thereby undermining the constitutional principle of equality.
The report highlights that disproportionate police force against peaceful demonstrations, arbitrary detentions, and surveillance practices have systematically impeded the exercise of fundamental rights. The sanctioning of peaceful slogans such as “Free Palestine from the river to the sea,” along with censorship in academic settings and the cancellation of events, are examined in detail as practices that narrow the scope of freedom of expression.
Policies restricting fundamental rights and freedoms, as concretized by Motion No. 20/13627 adopted by the German Federal Parliament, constitute serious violations under both the German Constitution and international norms, particularly the European Convention on Human Rights. Values such as human dignity, equality, and freedom of expression are protected as multilayered obligations within both Germany’s domestic legal order and the international human rights regime. The report concludes by offering comprehensive recommendations aimed at preventing further violations of these obligations.
