A German court has ruled that Berlin authorities acted unlawfully when they forcibly shut down a major pro-Palestine conference in April, concluding that police overstepped legal boundaries when they cut power and halted the event within minutes of its opening. The decision marks a significant rebuke to the city’s approach to political speech and assembly during a period of heightened tensions over the Gaza war.

The Palestine Congress had been billed as a forum for activists, academics, and international speakers to discuss European policy, rights advocacy, and conditions in the occupied territories. Instead, police intervened almost immediately, citing security risks, concerns about banned participants, and fears that the event might violate German restrictions surrounding groups linked to Hamas. Officers entered the venue, seized equipment, removed speakers, and physically disconnected the power, triggering widespread criticism from civil rights groups at the time.

In its ruling, the court said authorities failed to demonstrate an immediate threat that justified such sweeping action. It found that the shutdown infringed the organisers’ constitutional rights to free expression and assembly, adding that police relied on assumptions rather than evidence of planned criminal activity. The judges said any concerns about individual participants could have been managed through targeted measures, not an outright termination of the entire conference.

The case unfolded against the backdrop of Germany’s intensifying internal debate over pro-Palestinian activism. Demonstrations across the country have faced bans, restrictions, and heavy policing, as federal and state officials attempt to balance public order with sensitivities tied to Germany’s historical responsibility and its strong political support for Israel. Critics argue that the approach has increasingly criminalised political expression and disproportionately targeted Muslim and Arab communities.

Legal analysts say the new ruling could reshape how German authorities handle similar events, forcing local governments to apply stricter legal standards before intervening. It may also encourage challenges against previous bans and closures enacted since the start of the Gaza war. The Berlin Senate has not yet said whether it will appeal.

For rights groups, the judgment is a rare victory after months of confrontations with authorities. For organisers, it validates their long-standing claim that the conference was shut down for political rather than legal reasons. And for Germany, it opens another chapter in the complex debate over free speech, identity, and protest in Europe’s most influential democracy.