Two Irish nationals and a US citizen, who have recently been served with an order asking them to leave Germany over their participation in a pro-Palestinian university protest, have roundly dismissed accusations of anti-Semitism and indirect support for Hamas resistance movement.
Kasia Wlaszczyk, a Polish culture worker, 31-year-old Irish artist Roberta Murray, and 27-year-old American social work student Cooper Longbottom, were given the deportation orders last month, along with 29-year-old Irish citizen Shane O’Brien.
According to a lawyer representing two of the individuals, German authorities have asserted that the group poses a risk to public safety and should consequently leave Germany at the earliest opportunity.
They have been instructed to exit Germany by April 21, or they risk being deported.
Criminal and immigration lawyer Alexander Gorski said his clients had ongoing criminal proceedings for minor charges, such as trespassing, insulting police and resisting arrest related to their attendance at multiple pro-Gaza protests.
The four all participated in a pro-Palestinian protest at Berlin's Free University in October 2024.
Alexander Gorski, a lawyer specializing in criminal and immigration law, stated that his clients are currently facing criminal charges for minor offenses, including trespassing, disrespecting law enforcement, and resisting arrest, all connected to their participation in several pro-Gaza demonstrations.
Berlin's Department for Interior and Sport, which oversees immigration matters, has asked local authorities to revoke their residency permits during the ongoing proceedings.
Gorski stated that the decision was taken despite reservations from Berlin's immigration office, which raised concerns about the legality of expelling EU citizens. Ultimately, the Department for Interior and Sport dismissed those objections.
He noted that his legal team was not informed about the charges against the activists. “We have not yet received the file,” Gorski remarked.
The precise actions for which the four protesters were charged during the controversial protest are not clearly defined.
The possible deportation of two Irish citizens has generated significant controversy in Ireland, prompting Taoiseach Micheál Martin to express that the matter was of “fundamental concern in terms of the freedom of movement rights that EU citizens have.”
The incident reflected a “completely different approach” to the ongoing Israeli onslaught against Gaza between Germany and Ireland, the leader said, adding he would be raising the issue with German officials.
The Irish Foreign Office confirmed it was aware of reports of two of its citizens and was ready to provide consular assistance.
The pro-Palestine activists aim to highlight the challenges facing the Palestine solidarity movement in Germany following Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, with the hope of raising awareness among the broader German public regarding the swift decline of civil liberties within their nation.
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