Sinn Féin express alarm at proposed deportation of Irish citizens by German government – Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD, has expressed his alarm at the proposed deportation of two Irish citizens who have been ordered to leave Germany by April 21st for demonstrating solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Speaking today, Teachta Ó Laoghaire said:

“I am extremely concerned at the reports of the proposed deportation of two Irish citizens who have been ordered to leave Germany by April 21st, receiving deportation orders from Berlin’s immigration authority.

“From what has been reported, the two Irish citizens were participating in a demonstration of solidarity with Palestine, in response to the continued Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people.

“It is a matter of concern that legitimate political protest is being used as a pretext for the potential deportation of EU citizens without any other grounds, and I am aware that the two Irish citizens intend to challenge this matter in the courts.

“It is extremely important that the Irish Government expresses its concerns here, and registers its concern more generally with the use of political positions to constrain and shut down political debate by use of deportations, in regards to EU citizens who are there with a legal basis.

“Free speech is important, particularly in the EU, and it is important that citizens are in a position to express themselves and to protest, particularly on issues relating to human rights, in the context of the widescale slaughter that is taking place in Palestine.

“It is extremely important that the Irish Government expresses its concerns in this respect to the German government without any delay.”