Berlin [Germany], November 10: The German government came under sharp criticism at a review before the United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday of Germany's human rights record.
Several Muslim-majority countries in particular denounced Germany over efforts to restrict pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the country as well as discrimination against Muslim residents and immigrants.
At the hearing on Thursday in Geneva, representatives from Qatar, Libya, Egypt and other countries argued that interventions by German authorities amounted to a violation of the right to freedom of assembly.
Many of those countries have faced intense international criticism for their violations of rights and crackdowns on protests.
German authorities have limited or even banned some pro-Palestinian demonstrations, citing concerns about violence as well as expressions of anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli sentiments.
German officials have reacted with particular outrage over anti-Semitic incidents, citing the country's history of persecution and the murder of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany.
The protests have become particularly controversial in Germany since the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas carried out bloody massacres in Israel on October 7.
A Turkish official criticized Germany on Thursday for not doing enough to prosecute attacks and hate speech against Muslims in the country.
Iran and several other countries also criticized what they said was discrimination in Germany against Muslim women wearing headscarves.
A representative of the Palestinian Authority also criticized Germany's extensive arms deliveries to Israel, which she said were being used to commit war crimes.
As part of the UN Human Rights Council, the German government must regularly answer questions on the human rights situation in Germany.
Such reviews take place for each country every four to five years.
More than 100 countries registered to speak about the situation in Germany.
Germany's delegation acknowledged on Thursday that political leaders have long done too little had been done to combat racism in the country.
The delegation described racism as a high priority in the training of police officers, and promised a greater commitment to the rights of the disabled, gender equality and combating climate change.
German human rights activists, meanwhile, criticised their own government on Thursday for its increasing crackdown on migration, including a deal struck earlier this week to reduce benefits paid to those who awaiting decisions on asylum claims.
Source: Qatar Tribune