[ad_1]
The city council once again prohibits abortion opponents from marching in Zurich. He argues with confidence, but the real problem is different.
There were riots at the “March for the Lord” in 2019; Left-wing extremists injured three policemen, among others.
They defend unborn life and thus cause outrage in the supposedly cosmopolitan city of Zurich – the anti-abortionists behind the “March for Life.” Next year, the “Christian Fundis” and “Eternals”, as they are often scolded in Zurich, want to march through the city center again.
But like in 2019 and 2020, the responsible security department prohibits them from moving; only a standing rally in the remote turbine plaza will be tolerated. The city cites security concerns as the reason for the cancellation. The problem is not the marching Christians, but the violent counter-protesters. In 2019, there were violent riots in District 5. Around 400 leftist extremists formed roadblocks, set fire to containers, threw stones and injured police officers. The authorities fear these excesses again.
It is understandable that a police commander stands in front of his people and does not want to take unnecessary risks. However, the behavior of the city council is irritating and for several reasons. On the one hand, from a legal point of view: in 2019, the city already banned the move. At that time the organizers successfully defended themselves. They appealed against the decision and had two reasons. Once by the governor of Zurich, once by the administrative court.
The court ruling at the time was very clear: “Freedom of expression and assembly would be undermined if rallies that threaten violent counter-demonstrations were only prohibited or restricted for this reason.” Rather, it is up to the community to protect the manifestation from dreaded outside interference, for example with adequate police protection. The city of Zurich, with its large police force, has enough forces for this. Also, a rally at Turbinenplatz does not have the same appeal as a movement. The perception of the fact is “significantly reduced” and the exercise of freedom of expression and assembly is “significantly impaired”.
The city council finally relented. He accepted the court’s ruling and let the pro-life activists go a shorter route. The words of the administrative court were spot on and are still valid today. It makes no sense why the courts should now decide differently in the event of a new appeal, which the organizers have already announced. What the city is fighting here is an unnecessary and costly legal dispute. Presumably the authorities want to force a decision from a federal court this time.
Above all, however, the behavior of the city council is questionable in terms of the rule of law. If one follows the arguments of the authorities, then the counter-protesters only have to act in the most brutal and nefarious way possible to avoid peaceful protest marches by those who think differently. The mafia decides who can demonstrate in Zurich. This is a development that is unacceptable.
Security chief Karin Rykart (Greens) said at a press conference on Thursday that the decision to ban the move was not politically motivated. That seemed credible. Rykart distanced herself from the violence of the counter-protesters and correctly called their behavior “undemocratic”. But then she drew the wrong conclusions.
A strong democracy must do everything possible to ensure that minorities can also fully exercise their basic rights. Meanwhile, violent and turbulent peace must be punished with the full severity of the law.
