Michael O’Flaherty, the European Commission for Human Rights Commission, expressed concern that German authorities deal with demonstrations against the Gaza war.
In a letter from German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt published Thursday, O’Flaherty criticized restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression during the German Gaza War protests.
O’Flaherty wrote that there were reports of “the police used excessive force, protesters including minors,” which sometimes resulted in injuries.
“In addition, protesters are allegedly under invasive surveillance, online or in person and arbitrary police inspections,” he wrote.
The Human Rights Commissioner specifically pointed to demonstrations in Berlin and pointed to examples of protests held on 15 May, limited to fixed gatherings.
To his knowledge, he said that since February 2025, Berlin authorities have also restricted the use of Arabic and cultural symbols in the protests.
O’Flaherty called on the German government to avoid any measures that discriminate against people based on its political opinions, religion, nationality or immigration status.
Some protests against the German-Gaza War were subjected to violent clashes, and participants and police were injured.
An riot broke out at a rally in Nakba Day in Berlin that commemorated the flight and displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, linked to the establishment of Israel in 1948 and the first Middle East war. Participants threw drink cans and other items at police officers and sprayed them with red paint.
Overrahti said that while the authorities’ restrictions on protests on the grounds of maintaining public order make sense, the Council’s European Court of Human Rights determined that freedom of expression “applicable not only to ‘information’ and ‘ideas’, which are considered favorably accepted, considered rude, or tormented people.”
The European Council is independent of the EU. It was founded in 1949 with the goal of protecting democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe.
