Turkish woman summoned by German police over Palestine post
Flags of Germany, Israel and the EU are seen outside the German lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany. (AA Photo)
Elmas Kazdal, a Turkish woman residing in Dannstadt, Germany, reported being summoned by German police on September 15 after expressing support for the Palestinian cause on social media. She said authorities delivered a notice to her home, calling her in for questioning.
Kazdal recounted that upon visiting the police station, she inquired about the charges against her.
Summoned over Gaza hashtag
“German authorities claimed I had violated Article 130 of the Penal Code. The police told me I was summoned because I used the hashtag #GazaHolocaust in a post. I informed them that I would not give a statement. They believe the hashtag incited the public,” she explained.
She added that she declined to speak with the police without a lawyer present and stated that any further communication from authorities would be handled through legal representation.
‘Blemish on German democracy’
Kazdal emphasized that her posts did not target any specific group and should fall under freedom of expression.
“Germany, which often boasts of its commitment to freedom of speech, is being hypocritical and applying double standards,” Kazdal said. “I told the police that questioning or punishing me over this matter would be a significant blemish on German democracy.”
The police did not provide further details regarding the investigation, and Kazdal expressed concerns about potential legal consequences.
Germany expanded Article 130 of the Penal Code to include provisions against “denial or trivialization of genocide,” which Kazdal believes may be applied to her case. “Are we not living in a free, democratic country?” Kazdal questioned.
“I posted a tweet that was neither provocative nor offensive. They didn’t even specify which tweet it was. I believe someone reported me, and the police flagged my posts supporting Palestine. At first, I was shocked when I received the notice, but then I decided, ‘No, I won’t remain silent.’ We must continue to support Palestinians, but we have to be cautious with our language. Turning a blind eye to Israel’s actions, especially the killing of children and women, is unacceptable. In the end, we are all human,” she said.
Kazdal also criticized what she described as Israel’s use of the Holocaust to silence criticism from Germany. “Israel has long used the Holocaust to suppress German voices. Since World War II, Israelis have blamed Germans, effectively silencing them. But recently, Germans have begun to push back against this pressure,” she noted.
Anti-Turkish, anti-Muslim sentiment in Germany
Kazdal further highlighted the rise of anti-Muslim and anti-Turkish sentiment in Germany, attributing it to media disinformation that portrays Muslims as linked to terrorism.
She also accused German politicians of exploiting anti-Islam rhetoric to gain political favor. “Politicians are using fear of Islam to boost their popularity. Having lived here for years, I can now clearly sense the growing hostility toward Islam in Germany,” she said.
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