we are the people
This ongoing photo reportage is about the chronicles Palestinian solidarity activism in Berlin - Germany, predominantly led by migrants and queer communities, who have faced escalating repression by Berlin Police. Since October 7, 2023, the German state's unwavering political, financial, and military support for Israel has intensified, leading to the criminalization of pro-Palestinian expressions, demonstrations, and events, including moments of mourning for the 62.614 deaths in Gaza. ( death tool as per 17th May 2025)
In a sweeping crackdown on dissent, German authorities have escalated their repression of pro-Palestinian voices and broader anti-colonial solidarity movements. The state has criminalized the Arabic language at protests, violently suppressed demonstrations with pepper spray and brute force, and detained activists—often without charge—for up to 72 hours. Deportations and house raids have become tools of political intimidation, while protest bans are used to silence organized resistance. Institutions like the Frida Frauenzentrum have been shut down simply to express solidarity. Events have been cancelled, symbols like the red triangle outlawed, and political slogans such as “From the river to the sea” prosecuted in courtrooms.
University campuses have been raided, with students violently evicted for organizing Palestine-related discussions or protests. Even participation in legally authorized demonstrations is being obstructed. This is not democracy—it is the deliberate erosion of civil liberties under the guise of ‘public order,’ exposing the deep hypocrisy at the heart of the German state's so-called commitment to human rights.
Prominent international figures have also been targeted. In February 2025, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese faced significant harassment and intimidation by German authorities during her visit to Berlin. Scheduled to speak at the Freie Universität Berlin, her event was relocated twice due to political and legal pressures. German police surrounded the final venue, and Albanese reported threats of arrest, describing the tactics used as "mafia-style." Similarly, in April 2024, British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, known for his work in Gaza hospitals, was denied entry to Germany to attend a pro-Palestinian conference in Berlin. Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis also faced entry restrictions under similar circumstances.
This systematic repression occurs against the backdrop of Germany’s ongoing role as the second-largest arms supplier to Israel, a country whose military occupation and apartheid policies are directly responsible for the genocide against the Palestinians. Germany's support for Israel’s regime exposes the hypocrisy at the heart of its so-called commitment to human rights. What we are witnessing is not a democracy—it is the violent silencing of those who dare challenge the status quo, the criminalization of solidarity, and the protection of colonial violence under the guise of ‘public order’.
This work exposes the harsh realities of political repression, racial profiling, and state-sponsored censorship. In the face of police brutality and relentless media demonization, activists persist in their resistance, demanding justice and freedom for Palestine while asserting their fundamental right to self-determination and free expression.
Capturing the resilience of community, this documentation sits at the crossroads of anti-colonial struggle, migrant justice, LGBTQ+ rights, anti-capitalism, anti-racism, and environmental justice—organized in defiance of one of Europe’s most hypocritical democracies.
