I’m just back from a trip to Germany to visit one of my closest friends, Daniel, who’s been held in solitary confinement 23h a day for the past ten months in a 2 × 5m cell.
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Daniel and the other defendants (the Ulm 5) broke into a building of Elbit Systems, an Israeli weapons manufacturer to destroy equipment there in the hopes of preventing some small amount of the genocide taking place in Palestine. Only property damage occurred, no people were harmed or threatened and the 5 voluntarily waited to be peacefully arrested.
I believe on Wednesday, Zo, one of the 5, said something to the effect of “this would all be worthwhile if we manage to save one child’s life”
@BenRiceM I did not know of this case, hasn't been in the news in Belgium or I missed it. This is outrageous, violating the rights of young people with ideals in such a way. I hope justice and common sense will prevail, soon. Thank you for sharing this.
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Daniel and their co-defendants (the Ulm 5) are separated from their legal teams by a wall of bulletproof glass and they cannot communicate effectively. They have to use microphones, which seem to cut out frequently, or speak through a grill in the wall. And they must juggle listening to the lawyers, the judge, and translators simultaneously.
Every day in court, the 5 request that they be allowed sit with their lawyers and every day, the judge denies their requests.
@BenRiceM der deutsche Rechtsextremstaat
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A delegation of Irish politicians also attended on Wednesday and were outraged by the lack of records and themselves were not allowed to bring in pen and paper. I truly hope they can put pressure on the German government or the EU to do *something* about how this entire case is being handled.
I’m no lawyer but it seems blatantly obvious that multiple human rights have been violated here.
@BenRiceM German government won't do shit cause they are right wing authoritarians. I guess the only resort within the system is appealing to EU courts, which at least have half-decent track record when it comes to human rights. still wouldn't hold me breath and a court siding with you well after your rights have been repeatedly violated isn't much solace.
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@BenRiceM The EU has strong values, its basic principles and ideals I have always loved. I just wish our leaders did the same. This is an utter disgrace, but it happening in Germany and being largely ignored by our politicians and our media comes with little surprise. It might end up at the ECHR at some point, frankly while imperfect they seem to have a clearer understanding of basic rights and the right to protest - especially when protest is so urgently needed.
@thisislieven @BenRiceM I say only one thing: follow the money. The arms being manufactured for the sale to the zionists.
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@BenRiceM German government won't do shit cause they are right wing authoritarians. I guess the only resort within the system is appealing to EU courts, which at least have half-decent track record when it comes to human rights. still wouldn't hold me breath and a court siding with you well after your rights have been repeatedly violated isn't much solace.
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@BenRiceM I did not know of this case, hasn't been in the news in Belgium or I missed it. This is outrageous, violating the rights of young people with ideals in such a way. I hope justice and common sense will prevail, soon. Thank you for sharing this.
@random_sapiens @BenRiceM media is also under multiple restrictions. I grew up in SA apartheid so can smell this from far!
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@BenRiceM German government won't do shit cause they are right wing authoritarians. I guess the only resort within the system is appealing to EU courts, which at least have half-decent track record when it comes to human rights. still wouldn't hold me breath and a court siding with you well after your rights have been repeatedly violated isn't much solace.
@BenRiceM to be fair even if the German government wanted to do something, which they wouldn't, they have no legal authority to interfere with the courts.
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I’m just back from a trip to Germany to visit one of my closest friends, Daniel, who’s been held in solitary confinement 23h a day for the past ten months in a 2 × 5m cell.
They get one hour of visitation per month.
@BenRiceM Is there a reason given for the solitary?
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I’m just back from a trip to Germany to visit one of my closest friends, Daniel, who’s been held in solitary confinement 23h a day for the past ten months in a 2 × 5m cell.
They get one hour of visitation per month.
@BenRiceM I love you for loving him. Standing by him. I will stand by you, him and the others.
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@BenRiceM Is there a reason given for the solitary?
@temptoetiam not that I’m aware of with Daniel. I believe Crow, one of the 5, requested solitary because he was initially in a cell with others who were violent
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@thisislieven @BenRiceM I say only one thing: follow the money. The arms being manufactured for the sale to the zionists.
@connynasch @BenRiceM No question money is part of the equation but in the case of Israel it's not just that imo.
For Germany specifically part is the perpetuating sense of guilt of WWII and for just about everybody it's some weird, almost cultist, belief that Israel has a divine right not equal but above all others. It is so bizarre and disturbing. -
@BenRiceM to be fair even if the German government wanted to do something, which they wouldn't, they have no legal authority to interfere with the courts.
@elexia I think right now the hope is for independent observers to come and watch what’s happening and then hopefully there’s the opportunity to appeal or call for mistrial, etc
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I’ve spent these past few days dancing between seething rage at the justice system, profound admiration for my friend their co-defendants, and intense gratitude for the community of activists and volunteers who are fight for justice.
More than anything else though, I just fucking miss my friend.
As a small addendum, there’s a fundraiser to help Daniel’s family with all the costs associated and I’m sure they’d be incredibly grateful for any donations
Not the point of the thread, I just wanted to share my experience, but if you’re feeling fired up and ready to help, here’s an easy way to do so
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-daniels-family-attend-the-ulm-5-trial-in-germany
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I’m just back from a trip to Germany to visit one of my closest friends, Daniel, who’s been held in solitary confinement 23h a day for the past ten months in a 2 × 5m cell.
They get one hour of visitation per month.
@BenRiceM I would ask how is this permitted in a EU country, but we know why, because of the Israeli genocidal fucks.
It is an absolute disgrace the amount of power these pedophile fucks have.
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I’m just back from a trip to Germany to visit one of my closest friends, Daniel, who’s been held in solitary confinement 23h a day for the past ten months in a 2 × 5m cell.
They get one hour of visitation per month.
@BenRiceM
Welcome back how is your friend -
@BenRiceM absolute disgrace. Nobody died or was hurt so what on earth they’re treating them like this for is beyond me. Disgraceful
@keir @BenRiceM Because they fucked with the weapon industry. The Israeli weapon industry at that. We've had similar "interesting" happenings here in Sweden surrounding (I think) Elbit and that was only people being unwilling to help them load their cargo on ships.
Call me paranoid but very influential forces seem to be on the side of the country selling the most advanced cyber weapons and hacking tools in the world. Who are they blackmailing?
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@BenRiceM
Welcome back how is your friend@Timothyswallehz I think as well as can be expected, thank you
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It’s hard to capture the disposition of the judge but “dismissive, belittling, and demonstrating a complete disregard for any semblance of a fair trial” start to come close.
The kind of person who would laugh at the hardship she has just caused, then roll her eyes and complain that she doesn’t get what all the fuss is about.
Repeatedly.
@BenRiceM This whole thing is terrible, Ben. I'm so sorry for your friend. Here, no-one is allowed to mention in court the reasons these acts occurred, in case the jury acquit (as is their right). And recently the group who attacked Elbit were tried for (I think) criminal damage (fair enough) but then sentenced as terrorists, for which they were not charged or tried. It's appalling!
(Also, the huge majority of "terrorists" now are folk who sat on a ground with placards!)
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They request access to phone calls while in prison, and are denied.
They ask for handcuffs to be removed while in transit in police vehicles (and their ankles remain cuffed), for some of them up to three hours from their respective prisons to the court, and are denied.
They ask for an independent stenographer and a courtroom sketch artist, and are denied.
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If at this point, you still believe that Israel is justified in killing civilians and children, denying aid and medicine, demolishing hospitals, murdering journalists, and raping activists, I really don’t know what to say. But if you find yourself on that side of history, I hope that you can still see that Daniel and the others acted purely in defence of vulnerable people in a situation beyond desperate.
If that’s not heroism, I don’t know what is.
@BenRiceM
If you’ve ever wondered “what would I do in this situation?”
I hope you have even a fraction of the courage of the Ulm 5.@mastoreaderio unroll please
