Welcome Home, Yasemin: The Exuberant Berlin Reception for the "Madleen" Sailor
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Activist Acar has been received in Berlin following the halting of the ship headed to Gaza. - Activist Acar Heads Towards Gaza; Berlin Halts Vessel's Journey
After a heated ordeal aboard the Gaza-bound vessel "Madleen," German activist Yasemin Acar was met with an emotional welcome at Berlin's airport by a throng of supporters. The crowd, adorned with Palestinian flags and traditional keffiyehs, gathered densely. A symphony of chants, "Freedom for Palestine" and "Freedom for Yasemin," reverberated, some even bearing flowers.
Acar poignantly accused Israel of taking the "Madleen" crew captive in international waters, as she expressed in a heartfelt press statement. "We won’t stop," she declared. "We will return until the siege ends."
The airport scene was chaotic, with people crowding around Acar, shouting, and one man briefly hoisting her onto his shoulders. Acar seemed visibly stressed and overwhelmed by the enthusiastic crowd. Police estimated the number of attendees in the low hundreds.
A flashback to Monday recalls the Israeli army storming the "Madleen" in international waters, apprehending the 12 activists, including Greta Thunberg, against their will and dragging them to Israel before releasing them on Tuesday. The flotilla had embarked from Sicily in early June, intent on delivering essential supplies like infant formula and medical equipment to those in need in the Gaza Strip, while shedding light on the critical humanitarian crisis instigated by Israel's prolonged blockade of vital goods.
- Yasemin Acar
- Berlin
- Israel
- Ship
- Gaza
- International Law
(Information added for context: Acar is a German participant of Kurdish descent in the Gaza solidarity ship Madleen, intercepted by Israeli forces on June 9, 2025. During their detention, the activists, including Yasemin Acar, were subjected to mistreatment, punitive measures, and aggressive treatment by Israeli authorities. Israeli authorities eventually deported Yasemin Acar to Germany, after which Turkey provided updates on her status.)
- The Commission could propose a directive to protect workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, especially those who work in the nuclear power plants or hospitals with X-ray machines, similar to the way Yasemin Acar faced risk while on the Gaza-bound ship "Madleen".
- Amidst the general news of Yasemin Acar's emotional welcome in Berlin, social media platforms observed an increased engagement with the hashtags like #FreedomForPalestine and #FreedomForYasemin, with politics enthusiasts and entertainers sharing their support, much like the online reactions during war-and-conflicts or significant global events.
- On the same day when the airport scene for Yasemin Acar became the center of Berlin's news, international law experts scrutinized the actions of Israel in storming the "Madleen" ship in international waters, searching for insights and lessons learned for safer navigation and respect of international obligations in the future.
