Lahore (Web Desk): A pro-Palestine protester interrupted and chanted slogans during the German ambassador’s speech during at conference in Lahore.
According to details, Germany’s Ambassador to Pakistan Alfred Grannas was speaking at the 5th Asma Jahangir Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil Rights in South Asia’.
As the Germany’s Ambassador to Pakistan Alfred Grannas began his speech, the protester can be heard saying, “Excuse me, Mr Ambassador. I am shocked by the audacity that you are here to talk about civil rights while your country is brutally abusing the people speaking for the rights of the Palestinians.”
Many people around him supported him by shouting “Free, Free Palestine” and “From the River to the Sea.”
The German envoy, who looked visibly agitated by the development, responded by shouting back and pointing to the exit.
“If you, if you want to shout, go out,” he said. “There you can shout. Because shouting is not a discussion.”
Reacting to the protester’s comments, the German envoy said, “If you want to shout, go out, there you can shout. Because shouting is not a discussion.”
Later in a post on X, the Progressive Students Collective (PSC) said its members had “exposed the hypocrisy of German ambassador” by questioning him on the role of Germany in the deaths in Gaza. It also lashed out at the conference organisers, saying they had “forcefully silenced the voices of students while platforming the facilitators of Pal[estinian] gen[ocide]”.
PSC exposed the hypocrisy of German Ambassador questioning him on the role of Germany in Palestinian Genocide. The organizers of AJ Conf forcefully silenced the voices of students while platforming the facilitators of Pal Gen. #Ajconference #FreePalestine #germanambassador pic.twitter.com/lKuywPQ489
— Progressive Students’ Collective (@PSCollective_) April 27, 2024
It alleged that the organisers “assaulted the students and peeled their skin off”.
It is pertinent to mention that Germany has clearly sided with Israel since the beginning of the war in Gaza after a surprise attack was launched by Hamas on October 7, 2023 as a response to the deteriorating Palestinian condition living under Israeli occupation.
The conflict, which has claimed lives of over 34,000 Palestinians, has led to widespread criticism of the Israeli government, leading to protests in different parts of the world.
