Pro-Palestine activists targeted for deportation hit out at German state repression

On a video call, two EU nationals and an American recently served with deportation orders by Berlin’s state government for attending demonstrations against Israel’s war on Gaza told Middle East Eye they strongly reject accustions of antisemitism and indirect support for Hamas. 

Kasia Wlaszczyk, a Polish culture worker, 31-year-old Irish artist Roberta Murray, and 27-year-old American social work student Cooper Longbottom, were served the deportation orders last month, along with 29-year-old Irish citizen Shane O’Brien.

The four activists have been given less than a month to leave Germany.

Lawyers representing them have filed an injunction to suspend the deportation deadline set for 21 April while they wait for an appeal hearing, which could take a few months. 

The activists hope their case will shed light on the oppression the Palestine solidarity movement is facing in Germany in the wake of Israel’s war on Gaza – and wake up wider German society to the rapid erosion of civil liberties in their country.

Read more: Pro-Palestine activists targeted for deportation hit out at German state repression