A demonstration in Bonn about the war in the Middle East was allowed to take place on Friday evening, although the police had sought a ban. According to the police, it was titled “Stop the genocide in Gaza.” The Cologne Administrative Court lifted the ban order, and the Münster Higher Administrative Court confirmed this decision, as the Münster court announced. A spokesman for the Bonn police said on Friday evening that the event – with significantly fewer participants than registered – was taking place peacefully and without disruption.
As the police said, the person who registered had registered around 400 participants for a pro-Palestinian meeting. As an assembly authority, they were banned because of the title “Stop the genocide in Gaza” on the assumption that this would fulfill the criminal offenses of incitement to hatred and condoning crimes. However, the courts overturned the ban.
According to a spokeswoman for the OVG Münster, it was a so-called operative decision. Due to the rush, the reasons for the decision will only be provided later.
In Düsseldorf, too, a court had to deal with a demonstration with a connection to the Middle East. In this case, however, it was about restrictions on gatherings, not a ban. The administrative court there ruled that the restrictions ordered by the police on the pro-Palestinian demonstration entitled “Stop the aggression” were permissible. At the meeting on Saturday, the slogans “Stop the genocide” or “Stop the genocide” may neither be chanted nor shown on posters.
