Law enforcement needs to secure the safety of politician Karoline Preisler from the FDP, following another wave of assaults against her.
Berlin, July 6, 2025 - Recent days have seen a series of significant anti-Israel protests in Berlin, with large demonstrations, police interventions, and court decisions making headlines.
On Saturday, Arab and international activists held two pro-Palestinian demonstrations, one in the Tiergarten district and another in Berlin-Charlottenburg. The Tiergarten demonstration, with the banner "Solidarity with Palestine," was registered with 500 participants, but approximately 1,500 people are estimated to have attended. The demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against Israel and the U.S., while some demonstrators tried to break through the protective ring, but they failed.
The Berlin police intervened at both demonstrations, with 18 additional people being arrested during the Tiergarten demonstration for reasons including insults, displaying forbidden symbols, shouting forbidden slogans, and resisting law enforcement. At least ten people were provisionally arrested during the intervention at the Charlottenburg demonstration.
The Higher Administrative Court in Berlin lifted the ban on the pro-Palestinian demonstration in the Tiergarden district, which was originally prohibited by the police due to safety concerns. However, the demonstration was stopped prematurely at Kantstraße corner Wielandstraße during the Charlottenburg demonstration.
The police presence has been strong and at times confrontational during these events, with reports of German authorities imposing restrictions on the use of Arabic language and cultural symbols during protests, limiting marches to static gatherings, and conducting intrusive surveillance and arbitrary checks on protesters. The European Human Rights Commissioner expressed concern regarding excessive police force, including against minors, and urged investigations into these incidents.
FDP politician Karoline Preisler was present at the Tiergarten demonstration, escorted by several police officers. Several police officers formed a protective ring around her during the demonstration. Preisler held up a sign reading "Until the last hostage" and advocated for the release of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas.
Berlin's police president Barbara Slowik Meisel expressed her disapproval of the court's decision, stating that it was the most hurtful judicial decision she had faced in her seven-and-a-half-year tenure. The Charlottenburg demonstration, which attracted about 300 people, was stopped prematurely.
These events reflect ongoing public mobilization under heavy police scrutiny and regulatory restrictions, with vocal chants and solidarity actions for Gaza and Palestinians continuing despite the challenges. The incidents have drawn concern from European human rights bodies about potential violations of freedom of assembly and expression.
On Saturday, the general-news of Berlin witnessed two pro-Palestinian demonstrations, one in Tiergarten and another in Berlin-Charlottenburg, which were marked by politics and crime-and-justice. At the Tiergarten demonstration, with a banner "Solidarity with Palestine," the police intervened due to disorderly conduct, resulting in the arrest of 18 individuals. Simultaneously, the Higher Administrative Court lifted the ban on this demonstration, causing a disagreement with Berlin's police president. Meanwhile, at the Charlottenburg demonstration, although no arrests were made, the event was stopped prematurely, causing a stir among protesters and human rights bodies concerned about freedom of assembly and expression.
