The German Ministry of the Interior has issued a ban against DiEM25 co-founder Yanis Varoufakis after the police shut down the Palestine Congress that was set to take place in Berlin from April 12 to 14.

This entails not only a ban on entry into Germany, but even a ban on any form of online participation and activity at political events in the country, with the German government going beyond the bounds of authoritarianism.

Yanis’ Palestine Congress speech the ‘reason’ for the ban

The ban comes after Varoufakis was scheduled to give a speech at the Palestine Congress in Berlin on Friday, ultimately calling for universal human rights in both Israel and Palestine, only for the German police to burst into the venue to disband the event

Due to this, Varoufakis published his speech in full on X, to which the German government decided to crack down on the MERA25 founder in a truly shocking manner.

Yanis Varoufakis BANNED by Germany’s Interior Ministry from carrying out any political activity in Germany.

They’re so desperate to silence anyone who dares speak out against Germany’s complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

But DiEM25 and @mera25_de will never be silenced! pic.twitter.com/vr6b1OGPqX

— DiEM25 (@DiEM_25) April 13, 2024

The other two people for whom a similar ban has been issued are the academic Salman Abu Sitta, and the surgeon and rector of the University of Glasgow, Ghassan Abu Sittah, who was arrested and subjected to a three-hour interrogation at Berlin airport.

The pair were also due to participate in the Palestine Congress organised by Jewish Voice for Peace and MERA25 Germany, with the demand for a ceasefire and an end to the genocide in Gaza at the heart of the gathering.

The absence of true democracy in Europe is becoming more and more evident as the weeks unfold, particularly since Israel’s latest siege on Gaza.

Germany, in theory, should know better than any nation the potential dangers that this kind of attitude entails. It is time for democratic citizens to take a stand against a Europe that is sinking back into darkness.

Germany did not just stop the Rector of the University of Glasgow Dr @GhassanAbuSitt1 from entering Germany, to participate in our Palestine Congress, but threatened him with legal action if he dared send his intended speech by video. Question to German friends: In your name? pic.twitter.com/d0Xk02ppVq

— Yanis Varoufakis (@yanisvaroufakis) April 13, 2024

What is the Palestine Congress?

The conference was a joint initiative between the Berlin-based organisation Jüdische Stimme für Gerechten Frieden in Nahost (Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East) and DiEM25, and the necessary funding had been successfully secured through donations to ensure that the Palestine Congress could move forward. Karin de Rigo, MERA25’s top candidate for the European Elections in Germany, was set to moderate a panel discussion with Varoufakis and deliver the closing intervention.

“We stand in solidarity with all those seeking justice and are committed to the principles of democracy and human rights. This Congress represents a significant moment for those of us advocating for Palestinian rights, offering a platform for solidarity against repression and a pathway to engage the German government on issues of accountability. Joining forces with other organisations at the Palestine Congress, we aim to contribute to the global dialogue on justice for Palestine.  We’re committed to calling out and confronting Germany’s involvement in the atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza.”

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