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German court fines student for showing Israel flag

September 13, 2009

BERLIN (JTA) -- A German university student reportedly will appeal a fine for displaying an Israeli flag in response to an anti-Israel demonstration.

The student had displayed the flag during a Jan. 17 protest of Israel's Operation Cast Lead by some 1,600 people in the city of Bochum.

According to the Bochum district court, which levied the fine of more than $400 last week, the student and her friends held their own demonstration without official permission.

The pro-Israel students displayed the flag along with a banner decrying anti-Semitism expressed under the guise of Israel bashing. They also handed out flyers bearing the messages "Against Anti-Semitism and Fascism" and "Solidarity with Israel."

Police stopped the pro-Israel students quickly and led them away from the demonstrators, who were from local Muslim groups.

In its decision handed down last week, the court called the pro-Israel protest an illegal act of "provocation" because the students had not asked for permission to hold a counter-demonstration and thus had created a potentially dangerous situation.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the protest leader, whose name has not been published, will appeal the fine.

She said she was moved to act because Israel was being criticized for defending itself against rocket attacks from Gaza. She said participants in the anti-Israel demonstration were aggressive, calling on Israel to "stop the holocaust."

January saw several such anti-Israel demonstrations across Germany, many of them organized by Muslim groups. In a few cases, pro-Israel protesters countered.

 

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