In the weeks following the Hamas attack, Hamburg had imposed very strict restrictions on demonstrations, unlike cities such as Berlin. Since October 16, the police have repeatedly issued so-called general orders banning all unregistered gatherings in support of the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas that had not been confirmed by the assembly authorities. Even registered demonstrations were scrutinised very closely by the police and subject to strict conditions. A demonstration organised by the Shura Islamic Association, for example, had to be broken up after a few minutes because unauthorised slogans and posters were being used.
The Hamburg Administrative Court overturned the ban last week – since then, demonstrations have been allowed to take place more widely again. Pro-Palestinian groups, but also Islamists, are taking advantage of this, as will become clear this evening.
This is because the “Furkan community” is behind the “Justice for Palestine” demonstration. The Hamburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the group, which originates from Turkey, as an “Islamist organisation” with the aim of establishing a worldwide caliphate in which the rules of Sharia law would apply.
In the Hanseatic city, the organisation operates as an association and has been called “Jugend, Bildung und Soziales e.V.” since April 2018. According to the Hamburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the organisation had 240 followers last year. The year before, there were 200.
The fact that the organisation’s central concern is the return to a so-called “Islamic civilisation” does not seem to bother other pro-Palestine groups. Many mobilised for the rally, with several hundred people gathering in front of the stage shortly before 7 pm.
As the crowd chants “Free Palestine” again, a passer-by on the other side of the street shouts: “No!” She is quickly surrounded by police officers and remains the only disruption to the rally.
In the second part of the rally, the situation in Gaza hardly plays a role. The speaker now gives a long speech on Islam, which is probably a kind of short presentation of the views of the Furkan community. They are striving for an “Islamic society based solely on the values of Islam”, says the speaker. “Islam is our pride.” There are repeated shouts of “Allahu Akbar” from the crowd. The rally officially ends at around 7.45 p.m. and the crowd disperses into Friday evening.
Demonstration in Hamburg: Aus der Menge kommen immer wieder „Allahu Akbar“-Rufe – WELT
