A Kurd will soon stand trial again in Lüneburg, accused of violating the law on associations in connection with the ban on activities for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The defendant is a 59-year-old who is accused of having "collected" contributions for the PKK in 2018 and 2019 as "co-responsible for the PKK area belonging to the party area of Hanover". In addition, the man is accused of having collected money through the sale of a "PKK monthly magazine" and having made these proceeds available to the PKK.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the defendant's aim was to "financially promote cohesion within the PKK", although he was aware of the ban on activities in Germany under association law. The total amount involved is said to be 3,585 euros. The preliminary proceedings against the activist were triggered by the raid on the Democratic Community Center of Kurds in Hanover (NAV-DEM e.V.) in April 2018, in the course of which the police and the State Security Service confiscated flags, flyers, posters, information materials and computers.

Various lawsuits against Kurdish activists have already been conducted on the basis of the search of the association. Only at the beginning of last week, proceedings against two defendants in Lüneburg ended with the case being dropped. Those affected were members of the executive committee of NAV DEM. The new trial against the 59-year-old is scheduled for next Tuesday (March 22) and will begin at 9:30 a.m. before the 1st Grand Criminal Chamber of the Lüneburg Regional Court. The main hearing is open to the public.