The appeal proceedings against the former member of the Bundestag Michel Brandt took place today in a crowded hall of the Karlsruhe Regional Court. Brandt had been prosecuted by the Karlsruhe District Court a year ago for his solidarity with Rojava and his condemnation of the Turkish military intervention in northern Syria. Allegedly, he promoted solidarity with Rojava with symbols banned in Germany. As the prosecution could not prove this in today's trial, the proceedings were adjourned. Previously, the public prosecutor's office had refused to dismiss the case in response to questions from the presiding judge.

Before the trial, from eight o'clock in the morning, over fifty people took part in a rally against the ongoing criminalisation of Kurdistan solidarity. Speeches were given by Gökay Akbulut, member of parliament of the Left Party, Sahra Mirow, state spokesperson of DIE LINKE, Michel Brandt, Rudolf Bürgel and Rote Hilfe. Criticism was made of German policies that cover up human rights violations and torture by the Erdogan regime against the Turkish and Kurdish opposition and keep quiet about the attacks on Rojava and South Kurdistan, which violate international law. The speakers demanded an immediate stop of the arms deliveries to Turkey, which make the military attacks and the use of chemical weapons and dirty bombs on Rojava possible. The speakers emphasised the solidarity of the LEFT with the Kurdish struggle for freedom.

The group expressed their demands for the lifting of the PKK ban and an end to the persecution of Kurdistan Solidarity in Germany: "The trial against Michel Brandt must be stopped."