People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett says suppression represents a grave threat to democratic principles not only in Germany but across Europe.
Twenty members of the Oireachtas have signed an open letter to the Ambassador of Germany to Ireland expressing grave concern over recent events in Berlin.
The letter condemns the suppression of the Berlin Palestine Conference (Palästina Kongress Berlin), co-organised by Jewish Voice for Peace (Jüdische Stimme), and the subsequent arrests of key organisers and speakers. The signatories call for the rescheduling of the Conference, for all restrictions on political activity on speakers and organisers to be removed, for an investigation into the civil liberties violations, and for an apology to all affected parties.
Richard Boyd Barrett, who was due to address the Conference, said “The suppression represents an abuse of civil liberties and political freedoms by the German state, and poses a grave threat to democratic principles not only in Germany but across Europe.
In the days since the Conference was suppressed, it has furthermore been reported that German police have banned the speaking of Irish, an official EU language, alongside all other languages but English and German at protests outside the Reichstag Building.”
Deputy Boyd Barrett said “I would like to express my unreserved support for the Irish community in Berlin’s brave demonstration of support for the Palestinian people and condemn the German state’s interference in their political and language rights.
Their usage of the Irish language has highlighted Germany’s total disrespect for immigrant political rights, and their bizarre demand that Arabic can only be spoken at protests after 6pm on the basis that they have ‘forecast’ that protesters might express ‘punishable content.”
The open letter can be read here.