{"id":10880,"date":"2026-08-30T14:01:04","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T12:01:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fokusisrael.ch\/nicht-kategorisiert\/anti-semitic-protest-basel-police-allow-unauthorized-rally-at-that-location\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T21:11:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T19:11:57","slug":"anti-semitic-protest-basel-police-allow-unauthorized-rally-at-that-location","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fokusisrael.ch\/en\/news-en\/anti-semitic-protest-basel-police-allow-unauthorized-rally-at-that-location\/","title":{"rendered":"Anti-Semitic Protest: Basel Police Allow Unauthorized Rally at That Location"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Saturday, August 29, an unauthorized demonstration titled \u201cDeath to Zionism\u201d took place in the city of Basel (as reported by FokusIsrael.ch<\/a>). The Basel government had strongly condemned the rally in advance. Nevertheless, the Basel cantonal police initially allowed the approximately 300 demonstrators to gather on Theaterplatz. Later, they merely prevented a march through the city center and conducted identity checks.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

By David Spuler<\/p>\n\n

The timing of the demonstration was deliberately chosen: On August 29, 1897, the First Zionist Congress began just a few steps away from Theaterplatz in Basel. It was there that the movement was organized to realize the Jewish people\u2019s right to national self-determination. <\/p>\n\n

The \u201cBasel for Palestine\u201d call linked this date to the slogan \u201cDeath to Zionism\u201d and the red triangle, which is also used in the propaganda of the terrorist organization Hamas. The organizers denied that they were calling for violence against people. They had meant the end of a political ideology, ref.ch<\/a> reported. In reality, however, the call\u2014combined with the inverted red triangle that Hamas uses to symbolize its Jewish terror targets\u2014was a call for the murder of Jews. <\/p>\n\n

The authorities therefore deemed this an \u201cexplicit incitement to violence\u201d and ruled that the rally could not be authorized. The Basel Cantonal Police announced this four days before the demonstration<\/a>. For its part, the Basel Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office opened an investigation against persons unknown on suspicion of publicly inciting crime or violence.<\/p>\n\n

Basel Police Refrained from Breaking Up the Rally<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

On the scene, the police dialogue team attempted to make contact with the demonstrators. They refused to engage in conversation. The police then announced that they would tolerate a peaceful stationary demonstration. When some individuals covered their faces and began preparing to march, the police cordoned off part of the crowd.<\/p>\n\n

According to the police\u2019s official report, 174 people were checked and turned away. At least four are expected to be charged with obstructing an official act. One person was arrested for an offense unrelated to the demonstration. Two minors remained in police custody until their parents picked them up.<\/p>\n\n

A baton, protective goggles, items used to conceal one\u2019s face, and propaganda material bearing Hamas symbols were seized. According to police, pepper spray was used after a female protester physically assaulted an officer. The water cannon on standby was not deployed. No injuries were reported. Steinenberg and Theaterstrasse were closed for about eight hours; public transportation returned to normal afterward. <\/p>\n\n

Confidence in oneself and in the rule of law has been undermined<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The conduct of the Basel cantonal police leaves a bad taste in one\u2019s mouth. While it did prevent a demonstration march through the city center, But beforehand, they allowed demonstrators to express solidarity with Hamas\u2014a terrorist organization banned in Switzerland\u2014whose calls, in the run-up to the rally, the public prosecutor\u2019s office had classified as public incitement to crime and violence due to their anti-Semitism and hostility toward Israel. <\/p>\n\n

This passivity stood in stark contrast to the harsh words and announcements made by the Basel government and the cantonal police prior to the rally, with their call of \u201cDeath to Zionism.\u201d In doing so, the government and police have not only undermined their own credibility, but also the rule of law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Saturday, August 29, an unauthorized demonstration titled \u201cDeath to Zionism\u201d took place in the city of Basel (as reported by FokusIsrael.ch). The Basel government had strongly condemned the rally in advance. Nevertheless, the Basel cantonal police initially allowed the approximately 300 demonstrators to gather on Theaterplatz. Later, they merely prevented a march through the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10881,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_hide_socialbar":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[823],"tags":[626,1435,66,5771,5684,5685,5636,84,19,5775,3558,8,1930,5689,1905,5676,3321,5777,657,5655],"class_list":["post-10880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","tag-anti-semitism","tag-anti-zionism","tag-basel","tag-basel-for-palestine","tag-basel-stadt-cantonal-police","tag-basel-stadt-public-prosecutors-office","tag-death-to-zionism","tag-demonstration","tag-hamas","tag-hamas-symbolism","tag-hostility-towards-israel","tag-israel","tag-jewish-life","tag-red-triangle","tag-rule-of-law","tag-theaterplatz-basel","tag-theodor-herzl","tag-unauthorized-demonstration","tag-zionism","tag-zionist-congress"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t