2023-11-06 09:23:38
Illegal in Germany
Israel haters move to Switzerland – politicians want a ban
Extremist and anti-Semitic: This is how Germany classifies the pro-Palestinian network Samidoun – and therefore banned it. Politicians are now demanding that Switzerland follow suit.
Published6. November 2023, 10:23
The pro-Palestinian group “Samidoun” was banned in Germany at the beginning of November. (Pictured: Pro-Palestine rally in Bern on November 4th)
20min/Luca La Rocca
The reason for this is, among other things, the spreading of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish propaganda. The network also has connections in Switzerland. Research by «NZZ on Sunday» that around 40 members met in Geneva at the end of October – including important leaders. (Pictured: Pro-Palestine rally in Bern on November 4th)
20min/Luca La Rocca
The group also called for demonstrations in Bern on X and on its website. However, the network is not listed among the official supporters. (Pictured: Pro-Palestine rally in Bern on November 4th)
20min/Luca La Rocca
A ban in Switzerland, similar to Germany, is well received by members of parliament. This is also the case with Mauro Tuena, SVP National Councilor and President of the Security Policy Commission: “It is now important that the federal government moves forward in banning Hamas. There he can also record the Samidoun network.”
20min/Matthias Spicher
Center National Councilor Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter is also calling for a ban on the network in Switzerland: “I am clearly of the opinion that we have to take a close look at networks that have connections to Hamas, glorify their atrocities and spread hate speech.”
20min/Matthias Spicher
“I think a ban check makes sense,” said SP security politician Priska Seiler Graf to the “NZZ am Sonntag”.
20min/Matthias Spicher
The pro-Palestinian network “Samidoun” was banned in Germany.
The German Office for the Protection of the Constitution classified the group as extremist and anti-Semitic.
The network and its followers are also said to have connections in Switzerland.
Now Swiss politicians are also calling for a ban.
There was discussion for days until Swiss politics changed might agree on a ban on Hamas. Other countries are now going one step further: Germany decided on Thursday to impose a nationwide ban on the pro-Palestinian organization “Samidoun”.
The network describes itself as a “solidarity network for Palestinian prisoners” – but was described by the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution as classified as anti-Semitic and extremist. It spreads anti-Israel and anti-Jewish propaganda. Supporters celebrated the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel at several demonstrations. With the ban in Germany, the top of the network is increasingly moving abroad – including to Switzerland.
Supporters met in Geneva
As research by the «NZZ on Sunday» show, around forty Samidoun supporters recently met in Geneva. Important leaders were invited, including the international coordinator Charlotte Kates and Mohammed Khatib, who is responsible for European activities. Videos of demonstrations also showed how the group “Death to the Jews!” chanted, according to the “NZZ am Sonntag”.
The network also seems to have connections to local pro-Palestine demos: Samidoun was not an official supporter of the demonstration on Saturday in Bern – the group drew attention to the demo on X (formerly Twitter) and its website.
“The federal government must make progress in banning Hamas”
Now Swiss politicians are also calling for tougher action once morest the network. However, it is not quite that simple. “As long as an organization in Switzerland is not classified as violent extremist, the intelligence service has no control under the Intelligence Service Act,” says Mauro Tuena, SVP National Councilor and President of the Security Policy Commission (SIK).
“But I assume that the security authorities in Switzerland are closely monitoring any activities of Samidoun and her exponents,” says the Zurich resident. If the authorities come to the conclusion that representatives of Samidoun would endanger internal or external security, Tuena expects Fedpol to issue expulsions and entry bans once morest these people. “It is now important that the federal government moves forward in banning Hamas. There he can also host the Samidoun network,” said the SIK boss. Because: Although the security commissions of both councils have already approved the ban, implementation now depends on the Federal Council.
Broad support for ban
Center National Councilor Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter is also calling for a ban on the network in Switzerland: “I am clearly of the opinion that we have to take a close look at networks that have connections to Hamas, glorify their atrocities and spread hate speech.” Measures would have to be taken similar to those with the Islamic State (IS). “I really hope that we in Switzerland have such networks on the agenda – we have to follow suit in Germany.”
SP National Councilor and security politician Priska Seiler Graf pointed out to the “NZZ am Sonntag” that criminal law and the federal law on internal security already provide protection once morest hate speech, anti-Semitic incitement or glorification of violence. And yet she says: “I think a ban review makes sense.”
It is unclear to what extent the intelligence service (NDB) already has the pro-Palestinian network on its radar. When asked, head of communications Isabelle Graber simply said that the NDB is constantly monitoring developments in the situation in the Middle East and any consequences for Switzerland in accordance with its legal mandate. He does not comment on individual groups. A 20-minute query to the Federal Office of Justice remained unanswered.
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