The State Security Police of the Federal Criminal Police Office, who is responsible for political crimes, is investigating an incident during the Berlin International Film Festival.
In the premiere of the film “Querpanorama”, which is not part of the main competition, Hong Kong director June Lee read on a speech by Iranian actor Erfan Shekris, who acts in his film. The speech criticized the German government and its cultural institutions, including Berlinal, “to support the apartheid, massacre and the cruel destruction of the Palestinian people.”
Thus the controversial slogan, “from the river to the sea, will be free, will be free,”, including speech, which refers to the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea and therefore includes Israel and the Palestinian region of Israel. MAny worker for Palestinian rights describes it as a call for peace and equality after decades, in which millions of Palestinians are occupied by Israel. Critics of this slogan see this as a call to eliminate or remove the Jewish population from the country to eliminate or drive away the Jewish population from the country, which is why the German courts on the people charged by separate ICCASINS It has been accused who have provoked its use for hate.
This is especially the case German is the internal ministry Added the slogan A list of prohibited signals and slogans, calling it “A Hamas’s trademark “, Some courts in Germany Although Be passed Objection This interpretation of Slogan As a call for Violence against Jews and against Israel Stateit Stays till Everyone In specific cases whether the slogan is punishable or not.
Critics Ministry of SL’s interior interpretationOgan so Tell that Other variants of Slogan Search as ,From river to sea – You will see the Israeli flag ” Are necessary Criminal in Germany Even if they can be seen as denying the rights of Palestinians Self determination,
Last year, criticism of Israeli policies during the awards celebrations – especially by the Israeli and Palestinian directors “no other land” – led the allegations of antismitism and call by possible crises of the German politician in future.
The US -born film Curator Trichia Tutal, who handled the direction of the festival in April 2024, inherited the challenging task of finding a way to communicate a way to communicate Germany on a Hate speech, all got Artis independently subject Allowed to be expressed.
New guidelines on ‘dialogue and exchange’
The political backlash of the ceremony led the festival to develop clear guidelines on the matter.
The recommendations published on the website of Berlaley emphasizes that the festival is committed to protect the free speech, indicating that the freedom of Germany’s expression laws is “very far -reaching” and they “are only infected on the rights of others, They become, become, discriminate, or violate public arrangements and safety.
,Questions and answers to a respectable and open dialogue during the barlinal“So rumor is rumored that Berlynal Proteshapants have been found as a symbol by wearing clothes or showing solidarity with Palestinians. goes.
The final section in the guidelines especially addresses the use of the phrase “from the river to the sea”: it is “required” special care, and there are cases where it is prosecuted in the Berlin State, “the website said, the website said, the website said, the website said. The website said, “The website said,” The website said, “, in more general, there may be some languages and additional cultural significance in Germany due to the culture of Holocaust and remembrance and reconciliation.
Reacting to the speech at the “Querpanorama” premiere, Tutal said that Berlinley repeatedly regretted the incident: “We have informed our guests about the statements of politics ahead of the festival which are particularly sensitive and Potential punishable, “Tutal said,” Tutal said, which Tutal said, “So told that during the screening hosts Directly criticized the use of slogans. There was no immediate response to controversial speeches at the 2024 award ceremony.
Tilda Swinton makes without naming anyone
Last year’s backlash led the Palestinian campaign for Israel’s educational and cultural boycott – which was part of the boycott, Divist and Confict (BDS) movement – to call for the boycott of 2025 Berlinley. BDS has been stable as antisemitic by German Parliament In Multiple determination,
Tilda Swinton, who has been a long -time lawyer for Palestinians, asked why she still agreed to attend the festival, where she accepted the Honorary Golden Bear Award.
At a press conference, the actor said, “I am a great fan and is very respectful for BDS and I think a lot about it.” “I am here today – and tomorrow and tomorrow – because I decided to come, I decided that it was more import for me. Settled that all my reasons are more useful that there is no gymnasium for me. “
The press conference came a day after the award ceremony, where he said – without a direct name of a specific country or a politician – “Attempts to develop, colonization, acquisition, ownership, or rhevera property attempts.”
His speech therefore “sustained the domination and surprisingly, state-spread and international competent mass murder.”
Swinton said in the opening gala, “Inhuman is leg on our watch.” “I am here to hesitate or take the name of ITINOUT in my mind, and to lend to my human solidarity for all those who have our greed-ad-AD-AD-AD-AD -Identify unacceptable decency of govetments that make planetary debris well.
Some media outlets, such as Jewish General Criticizing the speech of the newspaper, Swinton, calling for an apology – possibly recognizing united Israel about human rights and human rights of war crimes.
On various occasions, Tutal has made a festival that the statements of politics will not be found on the struggle in the Middle East or on the opinion of its participants, but therefore emphasizing the harz “that the filmmakers have more platforms to speak about those issues. The right to use that they are for speaking about issues, or worried.
“If we silence people, we will not soon be at the International Film Festival,” Tutal said. “We are firmly against any form of anti -anti -defense. But we must ensure that freedom of expression is preserved.”
Edited by: Branda Has and Sara Hoffman