Reports indicate the women were part of a pro-Palestine group participating in the Berlin march.
Videos circulating online show Berlin police engaging in physical altercations with female activists at a pro-Palestine demonstration during an International Women’s Day march on Saturday.
X posts show officers in riot gear using batons and physical force to disperse the crowd. One video depicts officers dragging a female protester, pinning her down, and appearing to choke her.
The footage’s spread has generated widespread outrage, with some users condemning the police actions as reminiscent of Nazi-era tactics, while others criticized the German authorities’ approach to women’s rights enforcement.
While German media has been largely silent on the matter, Bild reported that a pro-Palestine rally was planned within the Women’s Day march in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district. The report stated that organizers asked participants to avoid bringing national flags, except for Palestinian flags, to represent a “revolutionary stance.”
The demonstration at Oranienplatz was reportedly peaceful until some participants began chanting anti-Israel slogans in Arabic, which are prohibited in Berlin.
Bild reported that police intervened when protesters allegedly violated this restriction, leading to a confrontation. As tensions rose, demonstrators reportedly threw bottles and clashed with officers, resulting in at least one officer being injured. The Berlin police acknowledged the incident on X, stating that 28 people were detained and asserting that officers were forced to use force due to the protesters’ alleged violent behavior.
Last month, Berlin authorities imposed restrictions on Arabic-language chants and speeches at demonstrations, citing “public security” concerns. Local media reported that organizers must ensure all speeches, music, and chants are in German or English. However, city authorities have not banned pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli rallies outright, with Berlin’s police chief, Barbara Slowik, stating that freedom of assembly is a key element of Germany’s democracy.
Over the past 15 months, pro-Palestine protests have occurred globally, initially protesting Israel’s military operation in Gaza, and later supporting assistance for Gaza’s reconstruction following a ceasefire.
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