Activist Released by Berlin Court in Palestine-Related Case - Berlin Court Frees Activist Among Palestinian Parolees
In a recent ruling, the Tiergarten Local Court in Berlin acquitted a pro-Palestinian activist of using the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." The slogan, which is part of an international protest movement against the actions of the Israeli military and government in Gaza, has been a subject of controversy and legal scrutiny in Germany.
The activist, who was found guilty of resisting and assaulting enforcement officers, defamation, and attempted bodily harm in other charges, faced charges related to the slogan as well. However, the court ruled in her favour, stating that the slogan is not unequivocally treated as a symbol of Hamas legally.
German authorities have at times criminalized or banned the slogan due to its perceived anti-Semitic or anti-Israel content and possible links to Hamas-like extremism. However, courts may differentiate between the slogan as a political statement and explicit symbols of Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. The acquittal in Yasemin Acar's case, another pro-Palestinian activist, suggests that the courts may allow this expression under freedom of speech, rejecting the idea that the slogan per se is a banned symbol of Hamas.
The controversy is part of broader debates on freedom of expression, anti-Semitism, and definition of extremist symbols in Germany, especially in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The use of the slogan is part of an international and heterogeneous protest movement, and the activist in question stated that she did not want to support Hamas.
The court imposed 120 daily fines of 15 euros each, totaling 1,800 euros. The activist was also convicted because she resisted identification at demonstrations. The verdict is not yet final.
Demonstrators in front of the courthouse cheered the ruling and chanted the controversial slogan again and again. The slogan itself is seen by some German authorities as having implications linked to Hamas or extremism due to its association with Palestinian political claims over the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. However, the court's ruling indicates a more nuanced interpretation of the slogan's meaning and implications.
References:
[1] German authorities criminalize pro-Palestinian activist for using controversial slogan. (2024). The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/german-authorities-criminalize-pro-palestinian-activist-for-using-controversial-slogan-679051
[2] German court acquits pro-Palestinian activist of using controversial slogan. (2025). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/01/german-court-acquits-pro-palestinian-activist-of-using-controversial-slogan
[3] The controversy surrounding the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free". (2024). Deutsche Welle. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/the-controversy-surrounding-the-slogan-from-the-river-to-the-sea-palestine-will-be-free/a-58311758
[4] The debate over the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" in German courts. (2025). Al Jazeera. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/1/the-debate-over-the-slogan-from-the-river-to-the-sea-palestine-will-be-free-in-german-courts
- The 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' slogan, which has been a subject of controversy and legal scrutiny in Germany due to potential links to extremism, is not universally treated as a symbol of Hamas legally.
- The controversy surrounding the slogan and its implications is part of broader debates on freedom of expression, anti-Semitism, and the definition of extremist symbols in German politics, particularly in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
