Germany is currently facing one of the most significant freedom of speech crises in its recent
history. In this regard, AEJ in Belgium had the honor of speaking with Melanie Schweizer, a civil servant
lawyer in the public sector who was fired from the Federal Ministry of Labour after her posting
statements about Israel on social media. Melanie has condemned the incident, denouncing her
dismissal as a clear violation of her right to freedom of expression.
“Germany has managed to maintain a perfect reputation, like the U.S., regarding democracy,” she
told AEJ Belgium, “We always expect them to be lawful and do the right thing because they have
worked for decades on this image. But this image is not the reality.”
“It feels like a repetition of history,” she said. With these words, Melanie Schweizer highlighted
how activists, students, and pupils advocating for climate justice in Germany are treated like
terrorists, particularly those involved in the anti-genocide movement
.
“There are also horrific cases of police violence,” she added.
German authorities have intensified their repression of pro-Palestinian protests, banning Arabic
chants and speeches under the pretext of “public security,” as reported by the German government.
Additionally, during the march organized in Berlin for International Women’s Day on March 8,
authorities physically assaulted women who were peacefully marching and advocating for an end to
gender inequality.
The racist and far-right environment in Germany is pretty evident, Schweizer believes. Anyone
who defends migrants’ rights is portrayed as a terrorist.
“They label me as a terrorist fangirl as well, but I don’t care because I know that I’m not,”
Schweizer stated.
As a result, the media has also been negatively affected by this threatening climate. Many media
outlets are afraid to speak out about the situation and address what is currently happening.
Schweizer emphasised the need to support independent journalists, media outlets, and social media
platforms. “The problem with the media is that they are not neutral. Our goal, I think, should be to
obtain unbiased information,” she declared.
She also explained that in Germany, some media outlets have language guidelines dictating what
journalists can and cannot say. “That’s dictatorship media and state-dictated information. This is
very, very concerning,” she said.
However, with a positive attitude, Schweizer highlighted the potential of social media as a tool for
individuals to express their ideas more freely. She stressed the importance of independent
journalists who operate on these platforms, supporting and amplifying each other’s content.
“We often underestimate the power we have as individuals. If we organize and connect, we are truly
capable of achieving so much. This can happen at a very grassroots level,we don’t need to be
presidents or own news outlets to change the narrative,” the former civil servant said.
“My video, for example, went viral. It was just a simple video I recorded in my friend’s bathroom
because I felt the need to speak out.I absolutely refused to be silenced. Of course, being fired was a
shock, but I deeply believe this is unjust and scandalous,” Schweizer explained.
She emphasised that social media platforms could be a “game changer” in elevating pro-Palestine
voices. However, she also warned of the risks of infiltration, pointing to major tech companies,
many of which are owned by individuals with ties to the Trump administration.
As an example, she cited numerous livestreams covering the genocide in Palestine, as well as crises
in Congo and Sudan, conflicts that receive far less attention and where access to information is
significantly more restricted. In the social media sphere, she lamented that “the world is on fire.”