Demonstrators intend to assemble outside the residence of Rheinmetall's CEO.
A planned protest against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, scheduled for August 28, has sparked a heated debate over privacy rights and the limits of free speech in Germany. The demonstration, organised by the left-wing alliance "Rheinmetall Disarm", is intended to take place in front of Papperger's private home, but it remains unclear whether the protest will be allowed to proceed.
The alliance has registered 80 people for the protest, with a potential of 200 participants. Lisa Schubert, a Düsseldorf-based Left MP, has announced her intention to accompany the demonstration as part of a "parliamentary observation". However, the planned protest has drawn criticism from some quarters, with Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) expressing his disapproval, stating that it is not acceptable to conduct protests in front of private homes.
Papperger is considered one of the best-protected personalities in Germany, having faced death threats and alleged assassination plans from Russia last year. The alliance has spoken of video surveillance in the street in front of Papperger's house and demands that it be turned off during the demo. Markus Ogorek, a constitutional lawyer, believes that the demo directly in front of Papperger's house might not be allowed due to a potential conflict between the right of assembly and the right to privacy and the inviolability of the home.
Protests in front of private homes often raise issues of inviolability of the home and protection of property rights, which German law safeguards. While the right to public assembly is protected in Germany’s Basic Law, this typically applies to public places, not private residences. Modern protest laws and court decisions in Germany increasingly balance freedom of expression and assembly with protection of privacy and property rights. Thus, protests directly targeting private homes may be limited, for example, by local laws or court orders restraining nuisance or harassment.
The exact address of Papperger is no longer available on the alliance's blog. The police in the Rhein district of Neuss are in talks with the organisers about whether and in what form the demonstration can take place. The state protection is involved in the investigation of the left alliance "Rheinmetall Disarm" after their private address was published.
Schubert criticises Papperger for making money from human suffering and profits from wars, like the one in Gaza, which she describes as "genocide". She finds it irritating that the public debate is more about the demo than about the consequences of Papperger’s and Rheinmetall’s business dealings. The left-wing alliance is also arguing with the city of Cologne about a planned protest camp against Rheinmetall, which recently opened a new factory on the Lower Rhine.
A decision about the protest is not expected until the end of the week, according to police statements. The outcome of this protest could set a precedent for future protests targeting private residences, raising questions about the balance between free speech and privacy rights in Germany.
The planned protest against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, organized by the left-wing alliance "Rheinmetall Disarm," has ignited a debate in the realm of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news, with questions being raised about the balance between free speech and privacy rights. This protest, intended to take place at Papperger's private home, has drawn criticism from some quarters, including Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU), who finds it unacceptable to conduct protests in front of private homes. Despite this, Lisa Schubert, a Düsseldorf-based Left MP, has announced her intention to accompany the demonstration, citing the need for parliamentary observation.
