Francesca Albanese ‘nervous’ on visit to Germany as two venues cancel her speaking event

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, recently expressed concerns about freedom of expression during a visit to Germany.

Francesca Albanese: ‘lacking oxygen’ in Germany

During her stay, Albanese spoke at events that were initially scheduled at Munich’s Ludwig Maximilian University and Berlin’s Free University but were subsequently cancelled under intense pressure from various authorities, including police and local government.

In remarks made to a small audience in a Berlin newspaper office, Albanese said:

I have to admit that about 75 hours in this country have made me pretty nervous… The situation is bad for freedom of expression pretty much everywhere. And still, I’ve never felt this sense of lacking oxygen as I do here.

Her lecture on “Colonialism, Human Rights and International Law” did not take place as planned; a backup venue was also forced to withdraw after facing vandalism and intimidation.

As the Morning Star reported:

Riot police lined the walls of the Morning Star’s German sister paper Junge Welt’s Berlin HQ on Tuesday as it hosted a talk by UN special rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese.

Police vans queued outside and officers muscled in against the wishes of the paper’s management, saying they were there to “prevent danger” as the Italian lawyer spoke on “legal perspectives on the genocide in Gaza.”

The actions against Albanese come amidst heightened tensions in Germany regarding expressions of solidarity with Palestine, particularly during Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Germany: clamping down on pro-Palestinian voices

Authorities have launched investigations and conducted raids against activism perceived as “left-wing extremist antisemitism”, while police in Berlin have taken measures to suppress the speaking of Arabic at protests.

Germany’s political climate regarding Israel has become increasingly fraught in recent weeks. The government has maintained a staunchly pro-Israel stance, viewing support for Israel as a national obligation, a point rooted in the country’s historical context regarding its treatment of Jewish communities.

In this context, Germany has continued arms exports to Israel and opposed international efforts to hold Israel accountable at various courts.

The recent federal elections have seen the Christian Democrats, under new leadership by Friedrich Merz, gaining significant traction. In their election campaign, they focused on an unwavering commitment to Israel, which includes a push for laws that would criminalise the denial of Israel’s right to exist and proposed measures that could further restrict residency rights based on accusations of antisemitism.

Merz has asserted that he will ensure Israeli leaders can travel to Germany unimpeded, a clear indication of the conservative party’s agenda as it returns to a position of influence.

Despite public opposition to the Israeli actions in Gaza, as evidenced by polls indicating that many Germans wish to halt arms shipments, political discourse in the Bundestag has largely avoided addressing the humanitarian implications of the conflict.

Public opinion versus politicians

Francesca Albanese’s visit comes amid a backdrop of increasing political polarisation on Israel.

The leadership of the Social Democrats, Greens, and the right-leaning Free Democrats has maintained a relatively consistent approach to foreign policy, advocating for traditional support for Israel without acknowledging the broader issues at stake.

The atmospheric tensions are notably manifest in academic and cultural spaces, as illustrated by Berlin’s current mayor, Kai Wegner, who has called for universities to engage police to quell pro-Palestinian dissent on campuses. This environment has led to an overall chilling of free speech, particularly surrounding discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Political discourse has morphed into a terrain filled with polarised views, whereby even mentioning words such as “genocide” in reference to the events in Gaza has faced derision from prominent political figures. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed allegations of genocide as “absurd” during a pre-election interview, showcasing a considerable distance between political elites and segments of the populace who seek a more compassionate and reflective engagement with both the historical and current plight of Palestinians.

As the Christian Democrats reposition themselves as a force likely to influence future German policies, the political landscape appears set for heightened scrutiny and potential suppression of pro-Palestinian movements and voices, leaving many observers and activists wondering about the future of freedom of expression and solidarity concerning Palestine in Germany.

The developments hint at a continuity of policies that align closely with the hardline stances against dissent and the prioritisation of Israel’s security narrative over the voices advocating for Palestinian rights.

Featured image via the Canary