German MP investigated for Öcalan poster

German MP Diether Dehm is undergoing an investigation by the police for holding a poster of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. 

Tens of thousands of Kurds and their supporters who came together in Hannover, Germany last Saturday to celebrate Newroz expressed support for the Afrin resistance and condemned the Turkish state invasion. Hundreds of posters of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan were carried by the crowd despite the police ban.

During the demonstration, Die Linke’s Federal Parliament member Diether Dehm held a poster of Öcalan for the crowd as he sang a German version of the WWII Italian partizan chant Bella Ciao. Dehm, known for his artistic endeavors as well as his politics and human rights efforts, said: “I have lost my parliamentary immunity before for opening a PKK flag, but these punishments can’t wear me down, now I am opening an Öcalan poster.”

Dehm was held shortly by the police after he stepped down from the stage and later found out that an investigation had been launched. For the investigation to continue, Dehm would have to be stripped of his immunity. The Hannover police are going to complete their case file on Dehm and submit it to the prosecutor’s office, and the matter will be taken to the Federal Parliament to lift his immunity.

DEHM: “I WILL TAKE THE CASE TO THE FEDERAL COURT”

Diether Dehm issued a written statement and said he will not back down in any way in the face of this police investigation and he will continue to fight against the PKK ban. Dehm pointed out that the PKK is engaged in a struggle of resistance and said: “This ridiculous ban should be lifted already.”

The German MP said he will fight in the federal parliament against the lifting of his immunity, and added that he will be taking the matter to the Federal Constitutional Court in case a verdict against him comes out and the prosecutor’s office launches an investigation.

Diether Dehm used the stage name “Lerryn” during the 1970’s and 1980’s, and is renowned for his human rights defending efforts. He had been given a 3.000 fine for opening a PKK flag in 2014 following an investigation after his immunity was lifted. 68-year-old MP Dehm was accused of aiding a refugee who wanted to illegally cross into Germany from Italy in 2016.

In the new investigation by the Hannover police, conservative politician Peter Gauweiler has stepped up to be Diether Dehm’s lawyer. Diether Dehm was a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU) for years and had taken on the role of Undersecretary for the Ministry of the Interior for the Bavaria state.