"Germany's crackdown on pro-Palestine support sparks concern and unease among activists"
In recent months, a group of individuals from various Arab and Muslim backgrounds have expressed feelings of unease and isolation in Berlin. Marwa, a 35-year-old Jordanian engineer, is one such individual, feeling unsafe due to increased hate speech and targeted inspections based on her Arab Muslim appearance.
Omniya, an Egyptian-Polish woman, shares similar sentiments. The lack of empathy and understanding from German society and close friends has left her feeling extremely lonely. Omniya, who came of age during the post-9/11 period, feels retraumatized by the current crackdown on dissent, given her experiences during the attack on Iraq.
The situation for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank continues to deteriorate, with attacks on displaced Palestinians, mostly children, persisting despite the International Court of Justice's order for Israel to prevent acts of genocide. At least 28,663 Palestinians have been killed, and 67,984 others have been wounded in Israel's latest war on Gaza. Oxfam has declared a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented severity and scale in Gaza.
Hanan, a 25-year-old Egyptian in Germany, feels hurt and betrayed after a former friend belittled her grief about Gaza on social media. Hanan has spent eight years in Germany but feels dismayed that her time here has been marked by insincerity and a lack of safety.
The German Federal Government's affirmation of support for Israel has been met with criticism, as it is seen as ignoring the plight of Arabs and Muslims within Germany. This sentiment is echoed by Souad, a US-born Palestinian educator, who feels confused by the unpredictable regulations in Germany regarding the expression of support for Palestine.
Protests in support of Palestine have been banned or cancelled, and authorities target individuals displaying Palestinian symbols like the flag and keffiyeh. However, a demonstration in Berlin on November 4, 2023, is organized by Palestinian and Jewish groups, with the message "Free Palestine."
Rania, a Palestinian-German humanitarian, shares statistics about civilian casualties in Palestine and addresses the disregard for Arab lives and the media's lack of reporting on Palestinians. She questions the state of the political landscape in Germany, particularly the lack of trust for BIPOC individuals.
Fouad, an Iraqi refugee in Germany, feels grief for what's to come following the intensified crackdown on Palestinian identity and solidarity. Since October 7, 2023, Germany has intensified its crackdown on Palestinian identity and solidarity, stifling peaceful expression. Legitimate resistance phrases like "Free Palestine" and "From the river to the sea" have been criminalized in Germany.
Omniya feels an ever-present risk of displacement due to the rise of the right-wing party, AfD, in Germany's parliament. These challenges faced by Arabs and Muslims in Germany have led many to draw parallels with the post-9/11 period, highlighting the reemergence of Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism.
Read also:
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Trump's Policies: Tariffs, AI, Surveillance, and Possible Martial Law
- Uncovering Political Ad Transparency: A Guide to Investigating opponent's Political Advertisements in the Digital Realm
- Elon Musk praises JD Vance's debate performance against Tim Walz
