Protest of anti-war sentiment in Gaza receives court approval granted

In a significant ruling, the Higher Administrative Court in Frankfurt has confirmed that the ban on a pro-Palestinian rally in the city was unlawful. The demonstration, titled "United 4 Gaza - Stop the genocide now!", organised by Abed Hassan and Amin Rjoob, both with Palestinian roots, is set to take place in Frankfurt am Main this Saturday.

Initially, the city of Frankfurt justified the ban on the grounds of a potential threat to public safety due to a "potentially anti-Semitic" rally. However, the Frankfurt Administrative Court ruled that a ban could only be considered if criminal offenses were expected from the entire rally. The Kassel Administrative Court further supported this decision, stating that the comparison with a rally in Berlin and the alleged criminal contributions of a participant claimed by the city of Frankfurt do not outweigh the restriction of the freedom of assembly.

The Frankfurt police have expressed their commitment to ensuring safety at the rally. They will be present early and visibly with many officers, and have stated they will protect peaceful rallies and intervene decisively against hate, anti-Semitism, and violence. The police's risk assessment does not justify a ban "in any way."

The protection of Jewish life is a central task of the Frankfurt police, with Police President Stefan Müller expressing particular concern about the safety of Jewish representatives in Frankfurt. Regarding the city's argument that the tense atmosphere between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian groups could lead to violence, the court argued that the police could take targeted action against individual troublemakers to ensure the freedom of assembly for the other participants.

The demonstration calls for an immediate end to the support of the Israeli genocide, apartheid, and occupation, as well as the respect for international law. It invites people from all over Germany to attend.

The decision is final and cannot be appealed, allowing the "United 4 Gaza" demonstration to proceed as planned. The court did not mention any prior context or earlier rulings in the article.