Yanis Varoufakis sues German state after authoritarian crackdown on Palestine solidarity

Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis is suing the German state after the government took totalitarian measures against Palestine resistance.

Police dispatched 930 officers to shut down the Palestine Congress in Berlin in April and banned Varoufakis as well as other speakers from the country.

Varoufakis: Germany violating “basic rights”

Following that, Varoufakis’ lawyers had three simple questions for the German authorities: which body issued the ban, when was it issued and on what grounds?

But the authorities refused to even answer – citing “national security” grounds and stating that a reply would undermine “proper performance of the duties of the Federal Police and other security services involved in the case”.

It’s unclear how Varoufakis or peaceful event the Palestine Congress represent a “national security” threat.

So Varoufakis is suing the German state for a “violation of his basic rights and defamation”.

The three day event aimed to raise awareness of Israel’s war crimes and German complicity, with organisers stating:

Together, with the voices of the Palestinian movement and the international community, we will denounce Israeli apartheid and genocide. We accuse Germany of being complicit.

The Palestine Conference will see numerous keynote speakers, panels and workshops. It will also be a space for organising and networking within the movement. Together we will discuss the perspectives of our movement on the basis of a common resolution.

Practical steps for actions in the workplace, universities, schools, arts and culture will be discussed and decided upon. An evening cultural programme and Palestinian catering will ensure a sense of community and well-being.

Association Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East was a key organiser.

Germany’s complicity

Instead of banning arms sales to Israel when lawyers were warning of the risk of genocide against the Palestinians, Germany initially increased arms sales to Israel after 7 October.

In 2023 German arms exports to Israel were up 10-fold, with the country supplying €326.5m of military equipment. So Germany is facing accusations of aiding genocide in the International Court of Justice, in a case brought by Nicaragua.

Israel has now killed at least 14,500 Palestinian children since 7 October. Yet it is the people opposing such a historic crime that Germany is banning – not the arms exports.

Wider authoritarian stance

The shutdown of Palestine Congress is part of Germany’s wider crackdown on Palestine solidarity. After 7 October, Germany initially banned most Palestine solidarity protests from going ahead.

When the bans were lifted, protesters were still concerned that freedom of expression was under threat after police seized banners.

Now student protests in the US have spread around Europe. And German police shut down a demonstration at Berlin’s Free University, where they also used pepper spray.

University president Guenter Ziegler said they had police close the protest because it’s “not geared towards dialogue”.

In the face of such suppression, we must uphold the basic freedoms of assembly and expression. In the case of Varoufakis, that means suing the German government.

Featured image via PoliticsJOE – YouTube