Latest news with #pro-Gaza
Euronews
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Council of Europe alarmed by free speech curbs in Germany
The Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, Michael O'Flaherty, has expressed serious concerns regarding the conduct of German authorities in response to pro-Gaza demonstrations. In a letter addressed to the German Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, O'Flaherty highlighted what he perceives as infringements on freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. 'Since February 2025, Berlin authorities have imposed restrictions on the use of the Arabic language and cultural symbols during protests. In certain instances, such as the demonstration held on 15 May 2025, marches were limited to static gatherings. Additionally, protestors have reportedly been subjected to intrusive surveillance—both online and in person—and arbitrary police checks,' O'Flaherty stated. The Commissioner also raised alarm over reports of disproportionate police violence during these events. 'I am deeply concerned by allegations of excessive force used by police against demonstrators, including minors, which in some cases led to injuries. The use of force by law enforcement must adhere to the principles of non-discrimination, legality, necessity, proportionality, and precaution,' he said. O'Flaherty has urged the German authorities to thoroughly investigate incidents of excessive force and to hold officers accountable where misconduct is found. He noted that police efforts to suppress Nakba Day commemorations—a remembrance of the 1948 displacement of Palestinians—were especially troubling. The Irish human rights advocate further pointed out that freedom of speech appears to be restricted within some German universities and cultural institutions. He cited reports of foreign nationals facing deportation following their involvement in pro-Gaza activities. 'I am concerned by indications that the working definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) is being interpreted by some German authorities in a manner that equates any criticism of Israel with antisemitism,' O'Flaherty wrote. Tensions have run high in Germany since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, with frequent clashes at pro-Palestinian rallies. During the Nakba protest in mid-May, demonstrators were heard chanting slogans such as 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'—phrasing considered antisemitic under German law. The event saw several injuries as confrontations escalated. In April, five students were arrested during a protest at Humboldt University for chanting anti-Israeli slogans. German police have also taken action against demonstrators displaying banned symbols, including altered Hamas slogans. Bill Gates will visit Brussels next week to participate in a Gavi vaccine alliance summit together with EU leaders to pledge provision of vaccine purchases for developing countries in an event co-hosted by The Gates Foundation and the European Union. The goal of the event is to collect €9 billion between 2026 and 2030. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, will likely represent the EU at the event. Gavi is a global vaccine alliance bringing together public and private actors that help vaccinate more than half the world's children against some of the deadliest diseases. The Gates Foundation, alongside the European Union, is its biggest sponsor. Gavi intends to immunise at least 500 million children in the next five years. This, according to their press release, would save 8-9 million lives. It is not immediately clear how much the EU will contribute to this plan financially. The EU has provided €3.2 billion in financing to Gavi since 2003. There was enhanced cooperation between the two during the coronavirus pandemic in the COVAX programme. EU institutions together with individual member states have also contributed €2.55 billion to Gavi's programmes, amounting to one third of the budget of the campaign. 'When the Gates Foundation made its first investment in Gavi 25 years ago, I couldn't have predicted the extraordinary impact it would have on combatting infectious diseases, lifting up economies and saving lives,' said Bill Gates in a press release announcing the summit in Brussels. "Together with Gavi, we have the goal to vaccinate 500 million children by 2030. That is why the European Union is proud to co-host Gavi's High-Level Pledging Summit in Brussels. Our support will remain steadfast,' von der Leyen is cited in the release as saying. Besides the Gavi's pledging summit, Bill Gates will also have other agenda items in Brussels, participating on Tuesday in a debate with MEPs on the European Parliament's Development Committee. The discussion will focus on assistance and innovation as drivers for improving health and living standards in the Global South. The press release of the Parliament adds that several international donors, like the United States and several EU countries, are cutting their aid budgets.
India.com
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Swara Bhasker Blasted For Supporting Pro-Palestine Rally In Mumbai, Netizens Ask No Word For Pahalgam?
New Delhi: Bollywood actress and activist Swara Bhasker has found herself at the center of social media backlash again after sharing a post urging Mumbaikars to attend a pro-Gaza rally at Azad Maidan on June 18. The poster she shared called on Mumbaikars to join the rally in solidarity with Gaza and Palestine. The rally has been organized by a coalition of left-leaning political outfits and civil society groups. The aim of the rally is to "condemn the Israeli genocide of Gaza" and to demand a revision of India's official stance on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Mumbai.. Show up for Palestine on 18 June! #stopthegenocideinpalestine — Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) June 16, 2025 Sharing the poster on her official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, Swara Bhasker wrote, "Mumbai.. Show up for Palestine on 18 June!" Netizens' Reaction The post received mixed reactions. While some commended her for standing up, others criticized her for not showing the same support for the victims of the recent Pahalgam attack. One user asked why she didn't show similar solidarity for Pahalgam: "Pahalgam ke liye toh ye sab nahi kiya??" Another commented, "Mumbai is not Palestine. Go to Palestine if you want to show up for Palestine." No word for the Pahalgam terror attack. No solidarity with your own people butchered at home. But a full campaign for a faraway conflict—just because it suits your ideological and religious lens. Hypocrisy is louder than humanity here. — Pavan K. Tiwari (@iPavanTiwari) June 16, 2025 A third user wrote, "You and your group have never gathered in any public space to show unequivocal solidarity with India." Another individual criticized the actress, saying: "No word for the Pahalgam terror attack. No solidarity with your own people butchered at home. But a full campaign for a faraway conflict—just because it suits your ideological and religious lens. Hypocrisy is louder than humanity here." Some users even tagged Mumbai Police and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, urging authorities to look into the legality of such protests and Swara's involvement. Swara Bhasker has often found herself at the center of controversy for voicing her opinions on global humanitarian matters. In the past, she has spoken up on issues ranging from the Rohingya refugee crisis to the CAA protests. As of now, Swara has not issued any further statements in response to the online backlash.
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Egypt deports more activists seeking to march to Gaza border
dpa Cairo Egyptian authorities have continued to send home foreign activists, who are trying to march to Egypt's border with the Gaza Strip in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian enclave, sources at Cairo airport said on Saturday. Dozens of activists of different nationalities were prevented from entering Egypt for violating the country's entry procedures and were deported on the same planes that had earlier brought them to Cairo, the sources said on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. The aircraft were not granted permission to take off until the deportation procedures were completed, a measure that caused several flights to be delayed by 20-40 minutes, according to the sources. Participants in the self-styled 'Global March to Gaza' had originally planned to travel from Cairo to the Egyptian city of Al Arish in Sinai, where they were to walk for about 50 kilometres to Rafah on the border with Gaza. The activists also planned to protest at the Rafah border crossing for several days starting on Sunday. Protests are heavily restricted in Egypt. Organizers said many participants had been detained, harassed, physically harmed and deported. Hundreds of activists were detained on Friday in the Egyptian city of Ismailia near the Suez Canal and had their passports confiscated, a security source said. Carola Rackete, a lawmaker in the European Parliament from Germany's The Left party, posted a video on Instagram on Friday in which she said she was turned away at one of the checkpoints. She and the other activists were purportedly loaded by force onto buses by security forces and sent back to Cairo. There was massive police violence, Rackete said in a second video posted Saturday. There was no official Egyptian comment. In recent days, dozens of pro-Gaza activists have been arrested and deported by Egyptian authorities, organizers and sources in Cairo said. Earlier in the week, Egypt required the participants in the campaign to obtain prior entry visas or permits. The activists say they want to draw attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in the populous enclave.
Qatar Tribune
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Dozens of activists denied entry to Egypt for march to Gaza: Sources
Cairo: Egypt on Thursday barred dozens of pro-Gaza activists from entering the country and sent them back to Germany, sources at Cairo airport said. The activists are part of a global protest campaign that plans to go to Egypt's Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian enclave. The sources at the Cairo airport added that the activists, who are European nationals, were found out to 'have violated procedures regulating their movement in Egypt.' On Wednesday, Egypt required the activists to obtain prior entry permits. More than 150 activists of different nationalities have so far been sent back after arrival in Cairo aboard flights from different countries, an Egyptian security source said. 'Security authorities are still monitoring arrivals to Egypt amid tight security measures at all airports and points of entry,' added the source on condition of anonymity. (DPA)
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sources: Dozens of activists denied entry to Egypt for march to Gaza
Egypt on Thursday barred dozens of pro-Gaza activists from entering the country and sent them back to Germany, sources at Cairo airport said. The activists are part of a global protest campaign that plans to go to Egypt's Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian enclave. The sources at the Cairo airport added that the activists, who are European nationals, were found out to "have violated procedures regulating their movement in Egypt." On Wednesday, Egypt required the activists to obtain prior entry permits. The German airline Lufthansa on Thursday confirmed to dpa that several passengers on a flight to Cairo were denied entry into Egypt. According to international aviation regulations, airlines are required to return passengers to their point of departure if they are denied entry. The procedure resulted in a delay of less than two hours for the return flight, Lufthansa said. For its part, the German Foreign Ministry said it is aware of several cases of Germans who were taken into custody by Egyptian authorities in connection with the "Global March to Gaza" campaign. The ministry added that the German embassy in Cairo is in contact with authorities and the individuals and providing assistance. More than 150 activists of different nationalities have so far been sent back after arrival in Cairo aboard flights from different countries, an Egyptian security source said. "Security authorities are still monitoring arrivals to Egypt amid tight security measures at all airports and points of entry," added the source on condition of anonymity. The organizers of the Global March to Gaza, meanwhile, said they would go ahead with the plan to reach the border with Gaza although about 170 people were facing delays and deportations at Cairo airport. "Our legal services are working on these cases, as we have all complied with all the legal requirements of the Egyptian authorities," the organizers added in a statement on the social media platform X. There was no official comment from Egypt. The participants plan to travel from Cairo on Friday to the Egyptian city of al-Arish in Sinai, where they are to walk for about 50 kilometres to Rafah. The activists also plan to protest at the Rafah crossing for several days starting on Sunday. Protests are heavily restricted in Egypt. On Thursday, another pro-Gaza convoy of activists were continuing a land journey through Egypt's neighbour Libya, controlled by two rival governments. Earlier in the week, the convoy of 1,700 activists set off from Tunisia in buses and cars with the declared aim of breaking the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip. The activists say they want to use the convoy to draw attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in the populous enclave. Israel had earlier asked Cairo to prevent activists from reaching Egypt's border with Gaza and entering the Palestinian territory. The Israeli army currently controls the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing.
