The Hezbollah flag will be banned from an upcoming anti-Israel march in Berlin, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.
The Berlin State Senate decided that displaying the yellow flag featuring a raised assault rifle at Saturday’s demonstration is considered “incitement to hate.”
Additionally, a police spokesman told the JTA that Hezbollah symbols will not be allowed on signs, posters clothing or other objects.
“The display of these flags and symbols can be tantamount to incitement to hate, in that they prompt people to chant hate slogans against a part of the population, namely Jewish fellow citizens,” police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf said in a statement.
“In addition, such actions represent identification with and approval of Hezbollah and their acts that, in relation to the upcoming march and without current context, are not protected free speech,” the statement added.
Berlin state interior minister Frank Henkel said that the Hezbollah flag has been deemed propaganda material that is not permitted to be displayed in public, said the JTA.
“Anyone who calls for the destruction of an entire people and promotes war and violence is abusing the right” of free assembly and speech, Henkel said in a written statement. He added that experiences from past demonstrations supported the decision.
The decision was made based on a request from the American Jewish Committee in Berlin, said the JTA.
Head of the Berlin office of the AJC, Deidre Berger, hailed the decision but said that there is more to come in combating Hezbollah’s message.
“We should not stop halfway,” said Berger. “Germany should make every effort to have Hezbollah put on the EU terror list.”
The United States, Canada, Australia and most recently the Arab League countries have listed Hezbollah as a “terrorist” group. The European Union has also blacklisted its powerful military wing, but has stopped short of naming the entire group a terror organization.
Last week, organisers of the same rally in London, which takes place on Sunday, said the Hezbollah flag will be permitted.
Source: i24News