Central Council of Jews in Germany calls for ban on antisemitic Al-Quds march

The Central Council of Jews in Germany has called for a ban on the antisemitic Al-Quds March in Berlin.

“The Al-Quds March is characterised by antisemitism and hatred of Israel. Participants ruthlessly exploit freedom of expression and assembly to spread their hatred and must finally be put to an end,” emphasised Central Council President Dr. Josef Schuster.

“Since the connection to the banned Hezbollah organisation is obvious, recent amendments to the Law on the freedom of Assembly in Berlin should make a ban on the Al-Quds march more likely” continued Schuster.

According to the Berlin police, 2000 participants registered for the march along Kurfürstendamm, which has been characterised in previous years by antisemitism, anti-Israel hatred and Holocaust denial.

According to the police, three counter rallies with a total of up to 1000 participants have been registered as well. The protest alliance “Against the Quds-March Berlin” includes politicians from the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the Green Party, the Left Party, as well as Jewish and non-Jewish organizations.

The spokesman for constitutional law of the FDP parliamentary group for the city-state of Berlin, Holger Krestel, has also called for the demonstration to be banned. It is up to Interior Senator (regional minister) Andreas Geisel (SPD) to draw up banning order with reference to the Hezbollah ban, which would likely be upheld by the courts.

A spokesperson for administration of the city of Berlin said that the authorities take a look at the Al-Quds march “each year very carefully,” this year also from the point of view of coronavirus restrictions.

The spokesperson stressed that in a democracy freedom of expression and assembly also have clear limits, such as for instance inciting slogans or calls for violence.

The “Al-Quds Day” was proclaimed in 1979 by the Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini. On this day in Iran, calls are made for the “liberation” of Jerusalem and the annihilation of the Jewish state.

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