Appeal trial for alleged coercion: Solidarity with Baki!

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Baki Devrimkaya, nursing student and activist in solidarity with Palestine, is standing trial in an appeals court for coercion. We call for solidarity and support at the trial on February 10 at 10 a.m!

The lawsuit for alleged coercion is based on a lecture hall occupation at the Free University of Berlin on December 14, 2023. There, Baki blocked, in a completely nonviolent manner, troublemaker’s access to the occupied lecture hall. These disruptors had, before attempting to enter the hall, already torn down posters and pictures with genocidal quotes from Israeli politicians from in front of the lecture hall and harassed the activists at the entrance as well. In the first  court appearance, Baki was already acquitted of the baseless charges of assault and insult, but was convicted of alleged coercion.

This lecture hall occupation was one of the many occupations in Berlin that were met with massive police violence and ultimately dispersed. The authorities continue to this day to criminalize protests in solidarity with Palestine using various means. In the fall of 2023 especially, demonstrations were often completely banned.

The baseless lawsuit against Baki is not an isolated case, but part of a massive campaign of repression against activists in solidarity with Palestine. Since October 7, 2023, hundreds of students and demonstration participants have been faced with lawsuits because they were all, in connection with lecture hall occupations and demonstrations, reported to the police for speaking out against the genocide in Gaza.

Two additional examples of this state and media repression are the closure of “der Roten Hilfe” accounts and the smear campaign against Neukölln mayoral candidate Ahmed Abed, from the far right. Internationally, as well, the Pro Palestinian movement has been persecuted with many empty accusations. One particular example is the recent case of railway worker and spokesperson for Révolution Permanente, Anasse Kazib. He posted tweets expressing solidarity with Palestine, and was charged with “glorifying terrorism” and his trial is still pending. 

Despite the repression, the Palestine movement continues to bring millions to the streets worldwide.  It has inspired many progressive actions internationally as well. Including the general strike in Italy and the blockade of arms shipments by dockworkers around the world, which offer a perspective for ending the genocide. In Germany, too, union leaders must take a clear stand against this repression—both in solidarity with their union member Baki and in solidarity with all workers worldwide who have been fired or repressed for their solidarity with Palestine.

Baki saw his defense of the occupation at the FU Berlin as an expression of the internationalist alliance between students and employees: „For me, as a healthcare worker who is particularly committed to our healthcare colleagues in Gaza and who fights for a safe and beautiful life for all people, it was clear: This occupied lecture hall must be protected from all kinds of attacks—whether by provocateurs who harass, molest, and threaten peaceful students, or by the state and its servants, who removed these peaceful students from the lecture hall with hundreds of police officers.“

Baki’s trial is an attempt by the German state to intimidate us all. For us, however, this is a trial for humanity, against genocide, against Germany’s complicity, and against every war in this world that is waged or supported by imperialist powers. We also want to defend freedom of assembly in this trial—no one should be punished for acting as a steward!

We, the undersigned, demand: Acquittal for Baki! Stop the genocide in Gaza and stop the criminalization of voices in solidarity with Palestine!

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• Baki
• Berlin
• Gericht
• Palästina/Israel
• Prozess
• Repression und Militarismus