The case is completely unknown in German media, took me some time to find enough material for a better assessment.
It's unknown in the German media for two reasons: mainly, because the story came out for the first time yesterday. Although also because the German media is extremely one-sided and dishonest when it comes to issues around Israel/Palestine, and generally fails to report on the extensive repression in Germany. I'd be interested to know what material you found that gave you a 'better assessment', and the details of what you found that you think is illuminating.
Your version is extremely one sided (the 4 accused did much more than "thought crimes"), your conclusions are premature (they are not deported) and your US-German comparison - as I said - is laughable.
How do you know the 4 did anything? They have no convictions. Amusing that you accuse me of being 'prematurely' angry about deportations that have already been decided, while you at the same time assume that any protestor ever accused of anything by a police officer is definitely guilty. Nice left wing values you have there, "St Pauli support."
That said, even if they were convicted of the things of which they are accused, deportations of EU citizens normally meet a much higher bar of conduct: we're talking usually multiple convictions for more serious crimes.
The Trump comparison is obviously apt. He is deporting people for Palestine activism. In the big picture, it's the same phenomenon.
The reason I say they're being deported for 'thought crimes' is because their politics are the ultimate reason they are in this situation. These (suspected) actions would not lead to a deportation if it were not for the fact that they're Palestine activists.
It's not premature. The LEA has already come to the conclusion they should be deported on 21 April. Yes they might win an appeal but that doesn't change the fact that the current decision is to deport them.
It's going the legal path and we'll see. As you say, German and EU law are strict, legal obstacle is high. No way legal path will be circumvented
Yeh, the legal obstacle is high. That's why the official in the LEA quoted in the article told the Senatsverwaltung that there was no legal basis for the deportations - before the Senat overrode them, evidently for political reasons. This overt political interference in a legal process is part of the problem.
Appeals are allowed as well.
Like it or not, the special historical situation about Israel is a factor in Germany, and people who live here under German law should at least be aware of that dimension.
So called "Staatsraison" towards Israel has never been part of a legal case up to now, the lawyer Gorski is right. But something has changed on 7 Oct 2023 and the fundamental legal debate in Germany about the consequences is ongoing. We'll see what judges will make of it.
People who live in Germany should follow the law. The Staatsräson is not a law.
Regardless of Germany's unconditional support for Israeli state violence, deportations of EU citizens also have to follow EU law, as well as the German constitution. The Staatsräson doesn't entitle any German public authority to break either: and again, as quoted in the article, expert legal opinion in Germany is well aware that it's a political principle, not a legal one. It should have no bearing in these deportation proceedings. (See section 5:
https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/1057386/87023b679b15d99163c49118cf7d3659/WD-2-009-25-pdf.pdf )
To be honest your last remark is a great illustration of the problem, which is that the dominant mainstream view in Germany is that it should have a special responsibility to Israel. No, Germany's responsibility should be towards Jewish people - which too many German people, seemingly you included, do not understand is not identical to the state of Israel. Beyond that, Germany should have a responsibility for the absolute defence of human rights and the rule of law for everybody - a responsibility which is germane both in this case, and much more importantly in the Middle East.
www.theguardian.com
