UN: Germany at “critical juncture for freedom of expression"

UN rapporteur Irene Khan has said that Germany’s current approach to increased hate speech is “inconsistent with international human rights standards”.

Freedom of expression is “shrinking” in Germany

Irene Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, has said that “Germany is at a critical juncture for freedom of expression”.

Khan said that Germany was taking rising hate speech seriously, but “has relied increasingly on criminalisation and security-oriented approaches to address them”.

Khan’s visit to five German cities - Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Karlsruhe - was the official country visit by a UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression to Germany.

“Many individuals to whom I spoke - including students from the Jewish community, pro-Palestinian solidarity activists, women leaders in local politics, journalists, academics and artists – told me that hateful attacks, often amplified by social media, are making them afraid to speak online or offline,” Khan said.

According to the UN website, “Special Rapporteurs are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council”. Khan is a British-Bangladeshi lawyer and human rights activist who previously worked as the Secretary of Amnesty International.

Silencing of pro-Palestine movement is primary concern

In the press release, Khan said that her “primary concern in Germany remains the use of anti-terrorism laws to restrict advocacy for Palestinian rights”, which is “chilling public participation and shrinking discourse in academia and the arts”. 

Khan’s comments chime with similar criticisms which have come from Amnesty International, the Irish government, Reporters Without Borders, and Human Rights Watch, among others.

In the week following Khan’s announcement, an international panel of jurors at the Berlin International Film Festival were asked to comment on the festival’s decision to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine or Iran, but never Palestine. 

“In light of the German government’s support of the genocide in Gaza, and its role as the main funder of the Berlinale, do you as a member of the jury support this selective treatment of human rights?” German journalist Tilo Jung asked. 

The Berlinale’s official press conference live stream cut off as Jung asked “...do you as members of the jury...”. The events have prompted speculation as to whether festival organisers were attempting to censor questions about Palestine, an accusation which the Berlinale has since denied.

Khan is due to publish a full report on her findings in June 2026.